Any restructuring process at Air Malta should strive for a balance between financial sustainability, workers rights' and the strategic importance of the airline, Alternattiva Demokratika said.

Chairman Michael Briguglio said the airline has been used by successive governments as an electoral tool to employ people for reasons that have nothing to do with economic viability.

At the same time, the management of the airline failed to make the company viable, even after all Air Malta workers signed a memorandum in 2004 which included wage freezes and, in certain instances, deductions to help the situation.

Along the years, various strategic mistakes were made by the airline. These were supported by the government which has to shoulder the political responsibility for the present state of affairs, in part a direct consequence of the mistaken strategy which Air Malta embarked upon.

“AD believes that the Air Malta issue should not transform itself into one of hard-headed or partisan bickering.

“We are four-square behind government negotiations with the EU which defend the strategic importance of the airline whilst conforming to EU policy on efficiency.

“In this regard, workers should be fully informed about the situation of the airline.”

Mr Briguglio added that unless made viable, the plain truth was that Air Malta would not survive in the context of liberalised aviation markets.