Updated 5.15pm with minister's statement

Updated 2.45pm with Chamber's statement

Updated 1.15pm with filing of court injunction

Air Malta has filed a court injunction against the Airline Pilots Association in a bid to stop the union from taking industrial action that could jeopardise talks with Alitalia.

The injunction filed today was provisionally upheld by Mr Justice Silvio Meli. The case will now be heard on July 22.

In its application, the airline said industrial action by pilots at this juncture could jeopardise the airline’s operation and financial viability.

The company said industrial action could impact the negotiations currently underway with a strategic partner, intended to secure long-term commercial viability of the airline.

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said the action was legal and symbolic. It was a sign Air Malta would be defended with all possible means - both legally and commercially.

He said that the airline and the team he appointed, led by President Emeritus George Abela, would continue to work and discuss with workers to find reasonable solutions that were acceptable to all.

Meanwhile, the Air Malta pilots have denied having an average take-home pay of €93,000 and have accused Air Malta chairwoman Maria Micallef of failing to correct what they term as “misleading claims”.

The Airline Pilots Association said the information published inTimes of Malta yesterday was factually incorrect.

In a second reaction to an opinion piece penned by Ms Micallef, in which she called on pilots to be reasonable, Alpa said the airline chairwoman “strangely enough” did not correct the claims despite being “well aware of the correct figures”.

Times of Malta has reported on the demands pilots are making during negotiations for a new collective agreement. The financial demands Alpa is making will see the airline’s wage bill on pilots alone increase by €6 million.

This will translate into an average increase of €50,000 in the take-home pay. Alpa denies this but has so far failed to say what its demands are.

Sources told Times of Malta that pilots’ demands fall broadly into two categories: a 30 per cent increase in the basic salary and guaranteed minimum bonuses.

The increase in the basic salary, which pilots want to be backdated to January 1 this year, would yield an average salary increase per pilot of €28,000 annually.

The difference to €50,000 comes from changes to the system by which pilots are awarded units every time they fly. These units are translated into monetary bonuses at the end of the month.

Sources said pilots are asking for several changes to this system, including the introduction of a guaranteed minimum number of points per month, irrespective of how much they fly.

In its statement, Alpa did not react to these revelations. However, it said it looked forward to the upcoming meeting with Air Malta management scheduled for July 18.

“Alpa remained prudent, and contrary to the claims made, never left the negotiating table and intends to continue negotiating on behalf of all its members,” the statement read.

Air Malta’s current wage bill on pilots alone equates to some €11 million.

Pilots are going to work without jacket and cap as a protest for delays to conclude the collective agreement. Last week, Alpa warned it would escalate industrial action unless its demands were met.

The sabre rattling comes at a time when government is negotiating the sale of a 49 per cent in the airline to Alitalia. This is being viewed as the next step to ensure Air Malta’s long-term survival with sources insisting pilots’ actions could jeopardise the deal.

See the Air Malta chairman's opinion piece at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160711/opinion/time-to-do-the-decent-thing.618446

Keep a realistic view on matters - Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry

In a statement, the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry called on all parties involved "to act with utmost responsibility", to avoid negative repercussions on the privatisation process and the economy.

Threats of industrial action during the single most important period for the airline, the chamber said, did not do justice to anyone’s cause and was seen as "most irresponsible".

"Risking to ground the airline at this sensitive time would not only paralyse the country’s connectivity at the height of the tourism season - putting hundreds of jobs linked to the tourism sector at risk - but would also endanger the health of the economy at large."

The chamber said every effort had to be done to safeguard Malta’s largest industry. Air Malta, it said, was also crucial for other sectors including manufacturing, which was completely reliant on the timely and reliable supply of components and raw materials.

"All parties involved need to put the national interest and the long-term interest of the airline as their one and only priority."

Parties, it said, had to keep a realistic view of matters at hand and look at the broader picture to avoid unnecessary collateral damage to innocent parties and preserve the long standing reputation of the airline and its key role in the country’s economy.