Updated 9pm - Added ministry statement

Tensions between Air Malta pilots and the government spilled over into full-blown confrontation on Sunday, after more than 90 per cent of pilots voted to authorise industrial action. 

Members of the pilots’ union, Alpa, were asked to vote on the possibility of instituting wide-ranging industrial action that could include a suspension of service. Some 110 pilots voted in favour, with just nine voting against it. 

The union asked its members to vote following an incident of what it called 'intimidation' against one of its members.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the airline said that the episode was not valid grounds for seeking industrial action, and was being used as a "pretext" to strike. Air Malta management, a spokesman said, had now filed a warrant of prohibitory injuction against Alpa and its individual committee members. 

The airline assured passengers that it did not expect any disruptions to flights on Sunday night or Monday.

The Tourism Ministry said the government was willing to take "all legal measures available" to protect the airline and remained committed to concluding a deal it described as "fair and just" with pilots. 

Pilots are the only one of four Air Malta unions not to have reached an agreement with the government over the airline’s restructuring and a New Year’s deadline for negotiations is already two weeks in the rear-view mirror. 

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat warned pilots that the government had a "solution for every scenario" and would not be held hostage by any one group of airline employees.

Read: PM sounds final warning to Air Malta pilots

In its statement issued later in the day, the airline said that pilots risked causing "irreparable" damage to the national airline running up to several million euro a week. 

The knock-on effects, it added, would be felt by all the airline's employees, passengers, tourism sector and national economy in its entirety. 

'Threats and intimidation'

An electronic ballot provided to members of the pilots' union Alpa sought their authorisation to start industrial action in view of what it claimed were “threats and intimidation” against one of its members by senior management. The voting closed at 5pm on Sunday.

The union did not reply to questions on the matter saying only that it was “confidential”.

Aviation sector sources on Saturday said the incident revolved around the airline’s Chief Officer of Flight Operations Alex Muscat and a First Officer who refused to supply him with routine Air Malta documents earlier this week.

Alpa had issued directives on Wednesday, ordering its members not to assist in the setting up of Malta Air Travel Limited, which is to own Air Malta landing slots in various airports.

“Alpa is ordering all members not to provide any assistance, directly or indirectly, in the setting up of new companies,” the directive reads. 

Sources said the First Officer refused to hand over the documents to the Chief Officer because he feared doing so would go against the directives. 

Threats and intimidation against union member

“The situation boiled over when this First Officer would not hand over the documents for three days. He was finally warned that he would face disciplinary proceedings, and the situation blew up. Now we find ourselves here,” an industry source said.

In its statement, Air Malta confirmed that a dispute had taken place between Mr Muscat and the airline's publications officer. 

Flight manuals, it said, were the property of the airline and the airline's acting CEO, Joe Galea, had taken note of the dispute. 

"This episode does not fall under the definition of "industrial dispute" as intended in chapter 452 of Malta's laws," the airline spokesman added, saying Alpa was using it as a "pretext" for industrial action. 

Directives still in effect

Contacted on Saturday, Alpa’s executive committee said its directives on the new company were still in effect.

“Until our members are assured of a continued work guarantee, Alpa will not assist in any new set-up which may actually prejudice our work. This should not be interpreted as Alpa being against any new set-up,” the executive said. 

Asked about the vote on potential strike action, Alpa said the Extraordinary General Meeting had asked its members to vote on a new collective agreement.

“The collective agreement vote has no relation to any other issue within Air Malta. Anyone who thinks so is grossly misguided,” Alpa said. 

Subsequent questions on the matter were not replied to by the time of writing. 

Malta Air Travel Services is wholly government owned and was set up with an authorised share capital of €70 million.

It is currently in the process of obtaining what is known as an Air Operator’s Certificate which will allow it to qualify as an airline and be able to own the lucrative slots. Alpa has also asked its members not to assist in anything related to the certification.

The government has said that once it obtains the certification, the new company will then enter into a lease agreement with Air Malta for the airline to use the slots.

Read: Air Malta losses surge from €4m to €13m

The company will acquire Air Malta’s sought-after slots at Heathrow and Gatwick for an undisclosed sum. It will also be required to own an aircraft, which is expected to be leased back to Air Malta.

In its statement on Sunday evening, the Tourism Ministry said that by creating Malta Air Travel Services, the government could protect valuable airport slots while ensuring Air Malta could continue to make use of them. 

The new company was announced shortly after Air Malta finalised a collective agreement with the GWU.

Voting by Alpa members on their collective agreement is expected within days.