No progress was made today in last-ditch talks held between Air Malta and the Airline Pilots' Association (Alpa) on the recommendation of a judge.

"We made no progress, we are going back to court," Alpa president Capt Domenic Azzopardi told Times of Malta.

The two sides reached a stalemate in pay talks concerning the renewal of a long-expired collective agreement.

Both sides went to court after the airline requested an injunction to stop the union from ordering industrial action, saying such action could cripple it while it discussed a potential strategic partnership with Alitalia.

Alpa has argued that it was always responsible when ordering industrial action, but that the airline request struck at the heart of the right for association.

An airline lawyer told the court last week that Air Malta was €66 million in the red and could go bust in October unless the talks on a link-up with a strategic partner were concluded by October.

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