Air Malta was born to be politicised by successive governments and no matter how much my claim may be rebutted, facts prove otherwise. Thanks to Pakistan International Airlines, Air Malta was given a sound take off and had a big future until both governments drained it with political interference.
We, Malta Airlines and Malta Aviation Services staff were not informed of the ongoing negotiations between the Labour government and PIA. We had been asked to undergo an interview with a PIA official but, much to my surprise, although I was accepted by the official, together with seven others known for our political beliefs, I was barred from joining the new national airline.
Today, I say it was a blessing in disguise but to be refused because of your political belief, when you have a family with two young children, was very hard to fathom.
I still kept myself in the travel trade and remember quite vividly going to the business management department with an oversized poster of Dom Mintoff puffing at his pipe behind the secretary’s desk.
PIA was making wonders for the new airline but, once again, the company was loaded with political employees, draining all that was hard-earned by the carrier. Election time came and every glass pane was covered with Malta Labour Party posters.
If the government is prepared to absorb the losses, the company should be wound up and an international appeal for expressions of interest should be issued
Time went by and Air Malta experienced a change of government but political interference still persisted and, with the departure of PIA from management, Air Malta turned its profits into losses.
Without naming of the chairmen, I must say that not one single chairman had the know-how of the former PIA officials.
No matter how much they tried, the airline lost the pioneering direction of the experts and every decision proved to be amateurish.
Once I have mentioned the number of political staff members, I must also refer to the change of fleet to the Avros, which cost the airline dearly. The aim behind such a decision could have been good but, in practice, these aircraft eventually proved uneconomical for the Air Malta routes. The financial consequences put the airline into more trouble and, coupled with the political overstaffing, the airline could not function properly.
Another financial blow was the Tripoli route, which was giving the national carrier very good returns. However, flights were suspended due to the trouble in Libya, which still persists. This route proved to be another nail in Air Malta’s coffin because the income was irreplaceable.
The wise decision to appoint a new CEO with the much required know-how was reaping results and progress was registered, even thanks to sacrifices by the staff and the early retirement schemes, which were aimed at cutting the airline’s daily expenses.
It was a matter of time before the airline could start breaking even but, once again, political interference gave the sack to the only person giving correct direction and, eventually, he was replaced by another chairman with no airline experience whatsoever. This last political decision meant the airline went from breaking even to posting a deficit of €66 million.
We are now looking for a strategic partner to pull the airline from the disastrous leftovers of both governments’ wrong decisions.
With my 55 years of travel experience, I can say the airline has again been set in the wrong direction.
If the government is prepared to absorb the losses, the company should be wound up and an international appeal for expressions of interest should be issued for anyone with experience to form a new company giving preference to the existing staff on the payroll of Air Malta.
I appeal to all the well-meaning to come together and find a solution to the problem first and foremost by giving top priority to expertise in the airline business.
Henry Fenech Azzopardi is director at HFA Travel Ltd.