From Mr R. Debono

This is not one of Nostradamus’ predictions of course. It is a prediction based on the knowledge of a clever and dedicated workforce – not all of them of course. It is entirely up to those people to make the prediction come true, and they can do it. They know it and so do many others. It will entail some very harsh decisions and more sacrifices – but they are already on the right track. All they need is to be left to take their own decisions – no external meddling and no external pressures from anybody.

The taxpayer might have to pay for some more time, until they rid themselves of some of the many burdens that have been dumped on them over so many years. The following is an extract from the book Four Maltese Airlines, which was written some years ago. “… they continued to attract an ever increasing number of customers, in spite of the fact that the Air Malta air fares were considered by many to be on the expensive side. It is also worth remembering that this State airline always appeased both local alternating governments and unions by employing more people than required, even at the risk of eventual severe consequences, which one day will have to be faced”. The time has arrived when reality has to be faced. If the airfares are expensive what is it that makes them so? The answer to that question is very easy. Solving the problem is not that easy – but it can be solved, if they are allowed to do it. Let them do it and Air Malta will survive.

Many people keep insisting that Air Malta has a monopoly. This is either true or false, depending on how one views it. The following is based on what was written in the above-mentioned book. One can say that there is no other airline “based and operating from Malta”; but one can also say that there are, and have always been, others operating to and from Malta for at least around 40 years. Alitalia, Libyan Airlines, and British (European) Airways, are at least three of them. It is very easy to say that Air Malta has, or had, a monopoly – what is difficult is proving it; unless of course one chooses to ignore the important fact quoted above. There are many Maltese people who live in Malta and who have travelled extensively over the past 40 years, and who never flew Air Malta – for their own reasons. They certainly cannot say Air Malta has a monopoly in its true sense; and these are not “defenders” of Air Malta; they never even travelled on it. This does not mean that further fair and sensible competition is not needed. The buyer wants it, and the buyer is the one who chooses and pays. Therefore the buyer is also responsible for choosing the value of the goods purchased.

Air Malta will survive because they know there are buyers, and other buyers. They have proven this by subsidising many of them. They kept the ball rolling, or shall we say their aircraft flying, even when it was not profitable for them, but only for others. In certain political philosophies, including that of religions, it is recommended that healthy people help those who are not. Those “who are not” does not include those “who choose not to be” for their selfish convenience.

Air Malta will survive and it will continue to fly; at present through some heavy turbulence; eventually through a more stable atmosphere. It is its dedicated workers who will ensure this. As one of its chairmen once said – “...when the going gets tough, the tough get going”.

Reggie Debono