Air Malta said on Tuesday it had received formal notice that in a vote taken by 53 pilots eligible for vote as ALPA members still in employment with the Airline, the union refused the latest offer presented to ALPA, that would have seen all the flight deck crew, including the 69 pilots previously made redundant, secure their employment and re-instated back to their flying careers.

“The offer meant that most of the pilots would have had to accept a reduction to their remuneration while maintaining most of their favourable rostering practices at a time when the airline faces unprecedented challenges with considerably decreased revenues and ongoing high costs in operations.”

The offer would have seen the currently employed pilots accept a 20% reduction in their basic pay, while the 69 redundant pilots would have been re-employed at 50% of their previous basic pay, the airline said.

“All pilots would have seen their basic pay increase to 90% of in April 2022 and revert to full basic pay in April 2023. Productivity and fixed allowances would be paid in full throughout.”

The airline said the 69 returning pilots would have had to relinquish their retirement scheme which currently entitles the Air Malta crew to receive a payout of about €800,000 when attaining the age of 55. In addition, all pilots would also have to drive themselves to work, forfeiting a legacy practice, of having a chauffeur driven car to pick them up for duty.

“The currently employed pilots refused the offer that would have permitted their 69 redundant colleagues to be re-employed with conditions that the company could sustain in challenging conditions as a result of the effects of the pandemic.”