Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis has said that the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) have refused the date suggested by Air Malta for their next meeting.

Air Malta management told this newsroom on Tuesday that Air Malta suggested August 31 as the date for their next meeting with (ALPA). However ALPA in brief comments to this newsroom had said that the discussions were an urgent matter, and that they would prefer having a meeting earlier.

The Minister urged pilots to be proportionate in their behaviour and not allow piques and lack of diligence lead to a situation that can put the working lives of all Air Malta workers in peril, as well as those who work within the Tourism industry.

The Minister said that sensitive discussions regarding the national airline are underway,  and the Minister feels that the pilots reaction, that they do not want to wait until August 31, is disproportionate and based on piques rather than common sense.

He said that ALPA must understand that putting pressure on the airline is useless, and that he is disappointed that instead of collaborating in order for the operations of the airline to be safeguarded, time is wasted on useless back and forth arguments that arrive nowhere.

While the Ministry awaits that ALPA accepts the invitation and participate in the August 31 meeting, where more concrete details can be given, he said that pilots must be conscious that any action taken that prejudices the airline will result in harsher commercial and legal decisions by the airline.