Alpa given guarantee that necessary changes at Air Malta will take place, union claims

The Prime Minister has guaranteed that the necessary changes pilots have been highlighting as necessary at Air Malta will come into effect, Alpa, the Airline Pilots' Association said.

Alpa had been threatening to strike on Saturday but withdrew the action following a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister yesterday evening.

The union thanked everyone who expressed support to its cause and said it wished to make it clear that the issue for this threat was not wage increases, as had been insinuated.

Some of the proposed changes, it said, will address the costs which Air Malta is paying MIA and the restructuring in the cargo section.

"One vital issue that was proposed and received well by all parties is the suggestion that Alpa gave to Air Malta to have a point of sale.

"This way the consumer will be able to dispatch his parcels and cargo directly through Air Malta thus generating more income to the company and less cost to the client.

"Another aspect agreed on was that Air Malta's human resources will be exploited better," Alpa said.

The union said it was its responsibility to ensure that these changes were implemented without delay.

It said it would be on the forefront of the demonstration in favour of Air Malta tomorrow and encouraged all those entities that expressed support to this cause but did not agree with strike action to join them.