An agreement has been reached between the government and the pilots’ union to safeguard the interests of both pilots and the airline, the government and the Airline Pilots Association (Alpa) said in a joint statement.

Both sides had gone to court last month 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.

The government, as the main shareholder of Air Malta, thanked the association for its cooperation and said this would help ascertain the commercial viability of the airline.

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis and Alpa also thanked President Emeritus George Ablea and Air Malta chairwoman Maria Micallef.