The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the Chamber of Commerce have called for a reasonable solution to the Air Malta dispute.
On Sunday, Air Malta pilots announced industrial action in the wake of a disagreement with the airline, action which has since been suspended following a court order.
In a statement, the MHRA said internationally the aviation industry is under severe strain and Air Malta is no exception to this.
2019 has seen the demise of a number of European carriers, one of the latest being Iceland’s WOW airlines. Wow’s bankruptcy hit not only the employees of the airline but had a considerable effect on Iceland’s economy.
In this fiercely competitive industry, only the most efficient airlines with the lowest costs will survive. Air Malta having been given a lifeline by the EU with an injection of 250 million euros on a ‘one-time last time’ basis, like other airlines, continuously fighting for its life. It therefore is incumbent on all those who are part of Air Malta to contribute towards the survival and growth of the airline. It therefore is incumbent on all that are part of Air Malta to contribute towards the survival and growth of the airline.
The pilots do a fine job, but so do others at Air Malta and many others across our economy. In this light, Air Malta pilots are expected to be reasonable in their calls to Government and must stop calling for excessive demands as this is now becoming a serious threat not only to Air Malta itself but to MHRA members and the wider economy as a whole. The Pension guarantee of 700,000 euro per pilot they are seeking from government is unreasonable.
Accordingly, MHRA urges Air Malta pilots association, ALPA, to be part of what could be an aviation success story and help grow Air Malta.
If excessive demands continue, it may lead to Air Malta facing the same fate of many other airlines which to date have gone bankrupt, something which MHRA said is sure no one wants but could be inevitable due to a wrong attitude by stakeholders.
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry said it has consistently supported the cause of the national airline. Today, in the national interest and that of businesses, the Chamber is once again in support of the airline and those negotiating on its behalf to ensure it remains in a position to operate uninterruptedly, and into the future.
As it has done in the past, the Malta Chamber expresses its grave concern on industrial action intended to interrupt Air Malta’s services. Such action would not only result in devastating effects on the airline itself, but also on the country’s economy at large.
It is most unfortunate that a small yet important section of the company employees is once again threatening to paralyze the entire operation of the airline jeopardising the livelihood of their colleagues in other sections of the airline and with them all businesses and workers whose livelihood depends on the national airline.
The Malta Chamber has said time and time again that the national airline is instrumental to the smooth running of the entire economy with several sectors depending intimately on its efficient and reliable operation.
It is high time that every player in the equation understands the responsibilities and implications of their actions and act responsibly in favour of the economic stability of the country.
The country cannot allow itself to be highjacked by the personal interests of the few. The Malta Chamber once again calls for common sense to prevail in unblocking this dangerous impasse for the economy and for the highest degree of responsibility on the negotiation table.