Noel Grima

A total of 69 foreign pilots have been engaged by Air Malta since 2005 – 51 on the airline’s operations in the UK and 18 who work locally, Investments, Industry and IT Minister Austin Gatt told Labour MP Leo Brincat.

All the pilots engaged in the UK, and three of those engaged in Malta, had previous experience. The others did not have previous experience and began their flying career with Air Malta.

Dr Gatt added that the national airline continually searches for new opportunities for work, to improve its profitability, especially in the winter months.

Last winter Air Malta leased two of its aircraft to two companies, one operating in Santiago, Chile and the other operating in Tripoli, Libya.

These lease arrangements meant that Air Malta succeeded in utilising aircraft that otherwise would have been a financial burden and not generated any revenue for the airline.

Since these flights were manned by Air Malta pilots, the company had to restrict leave during the winter months. This is normal practice in companies whose operations are not consistent throughout the year and that suffer from seasonality. But now, any request for leave is being granted.

Dr Gatt added that intensive talks have taken place between Air Malta and the Pilots’ Union. Although the company had offered more than Lm50,000 a year to captains and Lm40,000 to First Officers, the offer was not accepted by the pilots’ union.

These packages are more than Air Malta is currently paying the foreign pilots who work in the UK.