Hotel and restaurant owners have called on Air Malta management to meet with the airline pilots' union as soon as possible, saying it is "not correct" for the company to wait 4 weeks between meetings. 

In a statement issued this afternoon, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association again urged pilots to avoid threats of industrial action. "Use only the force of argument ... not the argument of force," the MHRA said. "Actions which threaten the tourism industry and therefore the livelihood of thousands remain unacceptable."

It however noted that a 4-week wait between negotiations was too long, saying management should seek to meet the union as soon as possible. 

Air Malta pilots and management are locked in a dispute over pay which spilled into court after the airline filed an injunction seeking to block industrial action. The injunction was denied by the court.

The MHRA, whose members' businesses are heavily reliant on inbound tourism, is keen for both sides to reach an amicable solution. 

If no agreement could be found, the association said, "the matter should be put to arbitration."