Air Malta defends fleet reduction as it denies ‘sensationalist reports’

Air Malta has strongly and categorically denied a report published in the Times of Malta today, claiming that the national airline was forced to wet lease aircrafts on 14 occasions during the Christmas period.

“The report is full of incorrect and misleading information intended to damage Air Malta’s reputation,” the airline said, condemning “such sensationalist reports.”

Air Malta said that it had only wet leased during the course of the whole year, costing a total of €280,000. These trip leases, it said, saved millions of Euros in denied boarding compensation payments, which the airline would have to pay to passengers for delayed or cancelled flights.

Joe Galea, Air Malta’s acting CEO said: “Air Malta has maintained its commitment not to cancel any flights due to any operational or weather disruptions.”

As part of its restructuring plan, in 2015, Air Malta reduced its fleet from 10 to eight.

Pilots and pursers cited in the aforementioned article pointed to the reduction of the fleet as the reason for “the airline was unable to operate all its scheduled flights with just six aircrafts,” after two other planes being grounded, calling it “mismanagement.”

However, Air Malta defended its move, saying that aircraft utilisation is a key performance indicator in the aviation industry and that it is making sure to maximise its resources.

“It does not make sense to leave such expensive assets idle in winter for more than half of the time as was customary. The airline was in a situation where its fleet caters generously for the summer period but was losing all its profits in winter when it does not need a large fleet,” Air Malta said.

It added that its current model creates an optimal fleet that covers most of the year, with potential to add capacity as necessary.

“This is saving money without negatively impacting any other aspects of the operation. This is part and parcel of the drive to continue reducing costs, become more efficient and return the airline to profitability and continuing to service customers,” it said.