The Airline Pilots Association – Malta (Alpa) has pointed out that no fewer than 38 pilots that were employed with Air Malta resigned over the past three years.

In reply to a media statement issued by Air Malta on Thursday night, Alpa said Maltese pilots working with the national airline have lost between Lm5,000 (EUR11,646) and Lm7,000 (EUR16,305) each over the past three years.

The amounts cover lost increments over the airline’s three-year Rescue Plan; to date pilots earn the same basic salary they earned in 2004 and an average of Lm1,000 (EUR2,329) per year is reduced from each pilot’s wage, according to the association.

In its statement issued on Thursday, Air Malta said it was surprised by the attitude taken by Alpa, which declared a dress-down as a sign of protest towards the airline.

The airline said the Rescue Plan signed in 2004 between Air Malta and the four unions representing its employees, was not just about savings in payroll – it was a company restructuring plan for the whole airline operation.

Alpa’s counter-statement said that by refuting its first statement, Air Malta has shown it did not appreciate the sacrifices made by Air Malta pilots over the past three years.

This, coupled with the way Air Malta pilots are treated, has forced no fewer than 38 pilots to resign over the past three years, two of whom resigned only last month.

Other airlines pay pilots at least double the salary that Air Malta pilots receive and other airlines also provide more stable rosters, together with better conditions, the association said.