The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has criticised the industrial action being taken by Air Malta cabin crew saying it would drive the airline into further difficulties.

Cabin crew are giving passengers a limited service in protest at no longer being provided with the “suitable meal” according to the collective agreement but with the same bread roll and bottle of water being provided to economy passengers.

In a statement, the MHRA said it could not understand the logic behind the resistance for change which was essential for the survival of the airline by a considerable number of stakeholders, who would themselves be badly effected should this one time bail out fail to turn the airline around.

“MHRA fails to understand how cabin crew take industrial action that will drive the airline further into difficulties which in the end can mean the loss of their jobs if the airline fails,” it said.

The association said that unless there was change, the airline would not survive and the consequences on Malta’s tourism industry and economy would be major.

“Those who are responsible for this industrial action have to assume responsibility for the very serious consequences of their actions…

“They should also show more respect to the airline’s shareholders, who are the Maltese people who, through their government, poured over €150 million to save their jobs.

“It is unacceptable that such action is taken by people whose jobs the country has saved at enormous costs,” the MHRA said.