‘I don’t want a Maltese fool’ – Fenech on Air Malta CEO appointment
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech told the Air Malta Steering Committee that he is not interested in employing “xi ċuċ Malti” to the post of CEO after this was vacated by former Easyjet director Cor Vrieswijk.
According to sources, Fenech was adamant in his position that he did not want to employ a “ċuċ Malti” to the airline’s CEO post – a position vital to the national airline company at a time when it is undergoing a restructuring that could save it from collapse.
Last week MaltaToday revealed how the former designate CEO Cor Vrieswijk, appointed to the position only last December 2010, had already resigned from his post. He was formerly EasyJet’s director of operations, who resigning after a summer of delayed flights and cancelled services at the budget airline.
But in an interview with the Sunday Times (March 13), Fenech contested the fact. “I’m not aware he left,” he said during the interview. “Nobody said Mr Vrieswijk left… Mr Vrieswijk is still involved in his consulting role, nobody advised me otherwise.”
Fenech however went on to say during that same interview that “we have three options for the next CEO of Air Malta.” He also said that “we need a person who has already restructured a company effectively.”
Last Sunday, MaltaToday also revealed that Air Malta has been paying Malta International Airport €21 on each passenger it brings to the islands. But no mention is made of the millions Air Malta has been paying in the restructuring programme that has now been taken back to the drawing board.
MaltaToday also revealed that criticism being levied at Finance Minister Tonio Fenech by airline employees and industry observers is that the government has ignored “disadvantageous conditions” Air Malta suffers at the hands of MIA – owned by Vienna International Airport, the Canadian engineering group SNC-Lavalin, and the Bianchi Group.
Contacted by MaltaToday, the Finance Ministry however denied the criticism as “completely unfounded and speculative.” A spokesperson for the ministry declined to say whether the ministry deems these tariffs acceptable, or what would be an acceptable tariff for the national airline.
Asked whether it would consider or plans to re-negotiate the airport’s tariff, the spokesperson said that “the restructuring process is looking at all aspects of Air Malta's operations, including tariff rates charged by MIA.”
On Sunday 6 March, MaltaToday also revealed how Air Malta pilots are up in arms over the proposed restructuring programme for the national airline presented to them, as they were made to sign a non-disclosure agreement not to divulge its details.