Air Malta was finalising negotiations that should lead to “substantial reductions” on Malta International Airport charges, airline CEO Peter Davies said.
In a candid interview published today, he said nobody at Air Malta ever tried to understand how the charges compared with those of other airports and then negotiate a better deal for the airline.
“It’s about being a good businessman. I look them in the eye – which no one has ever done to them before – and I say this is unacceptable, it’s bull... It’s very difficult for people to look you in the eye and say it is not,” Mr Davies said.
When I say I produce half MIA’s traffic but do not get a volume discount, which goes contrary to the law of the jungle, they start to listen.- Davies
When asked how the airport, which is privately owned, would be persuaded to consider charging better rates, Mr Davies said: “You do it forensically. You do your research about other EU airports and see if there’s anything out of synch. You get your facts and figures right and offer intelligent conversation. When I say I produce half MIA’s traffic but do not get a volume discount, which goes contrary to the law of the jungle, they start to listen.”
His comments appear to support the hard line stand taken by the Airline Pilots Association, which, in July, threatened a strike. Alpa had insisted that before any of the 57 pilots slated for the sack was laid off, the company had to renegotiate its contract with MIA.
Air Malta, Alpa had insisted, had entered into disadvantageous agreements with the airport operator.