The General Workers’ Union yesterday advised Air Malta employees to only hear what it has to say on the future of the national carrier.
Still, the union would not comment on the latest developments at the airline, though it insisted that the company’s management should first discuss its plans with the GWU.
“The GWU would like to appeal to its members at Air Malta to listen only to what the union has to say and not to rely on statements by others, who might have ulterior motives,” a union statement said.
Noting a declaration by Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis that the changes envisaged at Air Malta will not include any staff redundancies, the union said it was ready to cooperate with the government to save the airline.
Despite being the largest union representing Air Malta employees, the GWU has not yet commented on the decision taken by Air Malta to reduce its fleet by 30 per cent as from winter. The airline announced its decision following a meeting last week with the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.
Do not rely on statements by others, who might have ulterior motives
The other unions at Air Malta – the Union of Cabin Crew and the Pilots’ Association – came out against the plan, declaring it would not work. Saying they were not consulted on the decision, both unions said they could not understand how the airline could insist it would continue to fly the same routes and carry the same amount of passengers with three fewer aircraft.
The unions asked the airline to show them the studies on which its decision was based.
Air Malta is planning to reduce its fleet from the current 10 aircraft to seven in winter and eight in summer. It says this “fleet renewal plan will save the airline €41 million over the next five years”.
When asked for further details on how the plan will work, the airline told the Times of Malta the decision to reduce the fleet was just a temporary measure.
“By temporarily reducing the fleet to eight aircraft and increasing aircraft utilisation to 14 hours per aircraft per day, Air Malta will save €8.2 million a year,” the airline said.
“Eventually, once the airline achieves its restructuring targets, the fleet will be increased in a controlled and sustainable manner as the airline works towards growth,” it said.
Air Malta is near the end of the five-year plan agreed with the European Commission seeking to return it to a profit. It will not be able to rely on any further State aid if it fails to return to the black by March. It posted a loss of €17 million in its last financial year.