Captain to learn fate ‘after festive season’
Pilot union president being investigated over plane delay
Domenic Azzopardi has denied being late for an Air Malta flight. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
An Air Malta inquiry has not yet determined whether pilot union president Domenic Azzopardi was responsible for a 30-minute flight delay last July.
“The board of inquiry set up to investigate this case has met. The next meeting is scheduled to be held after the festive season,” an Air Malta spokesman told The Times.
The inquiry is expected to determine who was responsible for the delay of flight KM629 from Milan to Malta on July 27.
Reports had suggested that the pilot on duty waited for Captain Azzopardi and his three family members, who boarded late after a private holiday. Capt. Azzopardi, who is president of the airline pilots’ union Alpa, had vehemently denied being late for the flight, insisting “there was a problem with security”.
In October, Air Malta CEO Peter Davies quashed rumours the probe had been abandoned to secure a deal on a new collective agreement with pilots.
In an interview with The Sunday Times he had said: “It’s just a process we’re going through. We’ll get to the bottom of that and Domenic (Azzopardi) will have his opportunity to explain the circumstances, as indeed would other people, about why that particular aircraft was delayed.”
He added that two “independent” people had been appointed to review the case, one chosen by Air Malta and another by Alpa. Air Malta finalised its negotiations with the pilots in September but when asked if the investigation had been delayed to ensure the deal would be signed, Mr Davies had said: “Absolutely not. If I felt that it was appropriate to make a decision at the time I would have done. It has nothing to do with the collective agreement.”
Mr Davies had also denied reports that action against Capt. Azzopardi was somehow time-barred.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 4 - Eddie Fenech Adami stable...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
No appeals board for first part of power...
30 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Louis Ebejer
Jan 1st, 19:53
On Thursday the 20th December I was returning from Rome on Km 613. When all the passengers were on board and about to start engines a group of about 20 Maltese passengers arrived at the airport late due that they were held by customs on arriving from a cruise at Civittavecha. The plane left when all were on board about 1 hour 10 minutes late. Nobody complained. So why all the fuss on this case?
Gilbert Busuttil
Dec 31st 2012, 14:59
I hope he's sacked. But then I guess they'll chicken out for fear of retribution from the pilots. Pathetic!
Victor Vella
Dec 30th 2012, 11:08
Domenic is leading a united union. Air Malta has to pay attention or else suffer the consequences. Comparing Azzopardi`s infringement to other gross infringements made by political gods, is just a mosquito bite of no importance.
Antoine Zammit
Dec 30th 2012, 02:20
L-aqwa li s-Sur. Davies mhux xi cuc malti!
Anthony Agius
Dec 29th 2012, 22:59
Make your pilots attend annual refresher training in the underground carpark at MIA or we will discipline you! Sheer blackmail!
Joe M Borg
Dec 30th 2012, 11:32
This case started MANY MONTHS ago. Or were you asleep then? He was investigated the first time shortly after this incident propped up. Keep yourself informed before you write.
Joseph Borg
Dec 29th 2012, 19:54
There's nothing to judge. I can't understand what this fuss is all about! How can AirMalta punish the captain when they know that the pilots will go on strike if they do? The pilots rule, no questions asked! Say no more!
GL Calleja
Dec 29th 2012, 19:04
I think we are all forgetting the fact that Mr Davies is not a CUC and that is why Tonio Fenech picked him to be CEO to run Air Malta.Mr Davies is a very well seasoned airline person and he knows when to hold the cards dealt him, and I think Mr Azzopardi dealt him 4 aces. Maybe everybody did this sort of thing in the past and got away with it.But Mr Davies is no Cuc and he held on to those 4 aces
Peter Murray
Dec 29th 2012, 17:21
Lots of information here then isn't there?Like who exactly are these "2 independent people " reviewing the case.Like who sits on this "board of inquiry".Like why has it taken so long -over 5 months and counting-to resolve a very simple issue?What is remotely complicated about getting to the bottom of this incident and to then determine and establish exactly what went on?
Lawrence Fenech
Dec 29th 2012, 16:50
We have now come to the point where "you scratch my back but I will not scratch yours" in Air Malta.
Giov DeMartino
Dec 29th 2012, 15:46
Imbaghad nistghagbu li l-lkoppla tal-Mosta damet 27 sena tinbena!
twanny borg
Dec 29th 2012, 15:41
Li kienet mannani tar-rahal kienu jistennuha?
Joseph Calleja
Dec 30th 2012, 15:44
Qatt staqsejt kemm il-darba kien hemm delay minhabba xi ras kbira? Staqsi lill-haddiema ta l-Air Malta forsi ghandhom hjiel.
Pierre Micallef-Grimaud
Dec 29th 2012, 15:19
Is it some much difficult to make inquiries both locally and abroad or is it that things are dying down now and this story would soon be forgotten. So much has happened recently to judges, politicians you name it. Is there a problem with investigating National airline pilots or captains? Now that the story was spread on the news, people are waiting for an outcome!
Anthony Arpa
Dec 29th 2012, 15:03
Mandomx ghagla biex jiddeciedu ..... Dan wara kollox skont kif inghad memx kollox irrekordjat ta x'gara u ma garax min fuq il mobiles ...
Carmel Camilleri
Dec 29th 2012, 14:59
About time .
Nenu Cassar
Dec 29th 2012, 14:42
The same people who are playing down the incident would have cried loudly had Mr Azzopardi's political credo been different. Though how much they promise a new beginning in a few months time, I'm afraid that the words 'accountability' an 'efficiency' will still be words that we frequently pronounce but never put into effect.
Tonio Bone
Dec 29th 2012, 14:32
If the facts are proven I do believe Mr Azzopardi should be disciplined. However, that should also count for all the persons in the public sector that are clearly responsible of bad administration, failed projects, money thrown down the drain and ultimate incompetence due to achieve their position through recommendation and not meritocracy! Justice with all, bar none!
GL Calleja
Dec 29th 2012, 14:45
Mr Bone you just said what everybody else wants to say but do not. Yes Mr Azzopardi should be disciplined and I think he knows that. If he admitted his mistake in the first place none of this would have happened. I remember a few select passengers that were upgraded to business class without cause and people going through customs undetected because they knew the right people.Politicians are immune
Joseph Aquilina
Dec 29th 2012, 18:20
Yes mr. Bone. If he done wrong he should have been disciplined and case closed. Airmalta is wrong for dragging it's feet for so long. People start to ask questions why, was it done to make pressure on the pilot himself being the union chief
Iris Baitrman
Dec 29th 2012, 13:54
Don't know what all the fuss is all about Saudi Arabia are crying out for more epilots, and so are other airlines. in other words plenty more fish in the sea.
Salvinu Buttigieg
Dec 29th 2012, 14:23
If am not mistaken RyanAir and Virgin airlines as well as the Saudies are on look out for qualified pilots and knowing the Saudies salaries are quite high too and good incentives for the right people.
GL Calleja
Dec 29th 2012, 14:39
When Air Malta was first started, we used to have pilots wearing turbans on their head and it used to terrify the bananas out of me, but maybe that was personal flying fear. Now we have very professional Maltese pilots flying Air Malta aircraft. If Maltese pilots want to leave and work outside the country we might have to hire outsiders to fly Air Malta aircraft? I stick with the Maltese pilots.
Carmel Camilleri
Dec 29th 2012, 15:11
Most Airlines are restructuring and shedding thousands of employees including pilots.
The facts are that most Airlines are going or went through a structuring process which includes thousands of discharges, pilots included.. So where are the Airlines crying for pilots. Surely not in Europe or N. America .
Robert Cassar
Dec 29th 2012, 13:33
What are these pilots? Air malta should Just them go all and get equial qualified pilots from asia which will be much cheaper...
M. Cachia
Dec 29th 2012, 14:18
What's all the fuss about this silly mishap? Unbelievable that the TOM has nothing better to report.
GL Calleja
Dec 29th 2012, 14:30
There is nothing wrong with Maltese pilots.They are courteous and very professional in every way. After all this is Malta and anybody in any kind of authority has some of that pompousness. Look around you someday and take note. Hopefully this is an isolated incident and in no way reflects on on all of the pilots. These same delays are always caused by some politicians but none were reprimanded.
Giancarlo Refalo
Dec 29th 2012, 15:54
I'm going to cut and paste from an online article I've read, one of many stating FACTS...
"Asia-Pacific, the world's fastest-growing aviation market, is facing a possible shortage of technicians and pilots,..."
and...
" the region would need about 185,600 new pilots and 243,500 new technicians in the next two decades."
also please check the amazing salary packages being offered; then comment!
M. Micallef
Dec 29th 2012, 16:19
Robert Cassar,
a quick Google search will show you some of the "cheap" Asian pilots' salaries are talking about
Same Air Malta aircraft type A320: Tianjin Airlines, China Yearly Salary : $224,000 (E170,000) p.a.
http://www.chinaaviationrecruitment.com/
How many experts on this board LOL
GL Calleja
Dec 29th 2012, 13:28
Amen to that news. This would be fair to Air Malta and also fair to the two Captains involved. No man is an island and one cannot use his or her authority to abuse the system, no matter what that system is, whether it is a judge,a pilot, a politician or anybody else in power. Nobody is above the law. On the other hand everybody should be given the chance to defend oneself.
Please choose the reason of your report below: