Air Malta and the Airline Pilots Associations – Malta have concluded talks on a new collective agreement which has now been signed, covering a three-year period from 1 August, 2007 to 31 July, 2010.

The agreement, reached over seven months of talks, was approved by Air Malta’s board of directors and the ALPA members last week.

A spokesperson for the ALPA said the agreement reinforces bridges between Air Malta and its pilots, paving the way for a harmonious industrial relationship. A spokesperson for the airline said that Air Malta and ALPA have agreed on a comprehensive package.

The financial package was the major stumbling block, given the financial position of the company that had reached a very precarious situation in 2003, but after intense discussions the parties finalised “a win-win agreement acceptable to both”, the airline said.

This is the second collective agreement signed with the unions representing Air Malta employees. Last December the airline and the Association of Airline Engineers signed the first post rescue pact collective agreement. Separate collective agreement discussions between Air Malta and the General Workers Union and the Union of Cabin Crew are underway.

Earlier last year the four unions representing employees at the airline had expressed a preference to negotiate separate collective agreements instead of extending the three-year rescue pact signed between the airline and the four unions.