Air Malta pilots hit out at PBS, ‘threat of action was never about our salaries’

@miceli, Perhaps the reason for the exorbitant fare is because you will be travelling by two different airlines.

Hanqa ta' hmar. Alpa not helping the name of responsible trade unionism. Duminku wanted to play in the premier division and he was found lacking.

@Micei Good point – let me give you a few reasons. Employees – commercial airlines employ only people they need, no more, no less. Furthermore, if an employee does not deliver, he/she is replaced. Simple and effective. In Air Malta’s case (as well as in all other companies where Government was the major, or only, shareholder), the company has to employ hundreds of additional employees – not because there is a need for them, but simply because the Minister and his/her fellow MPs value votes above everything else. The fact that all these hundreds of extra employees will be costing the company (and its clients) a fortune, is neither here nor there. It’s the VOTES. National Interest – Commercial airlines fly only those routes that are commercially viable. As soon as the rate of return from a particular route starts decreasing, immediate corrective action is taken. This is what any responsible company would do – protect its PROFIT element. In the case of Air Malta, it has to fly to destinations which are dictated only by the “national interest” by way of tourism. On most routes Air Malta would be losing money, but it cannot take corrective action because otherwise the tourist figures would drop substantially….. Cargo – most commercial airlines, at least those operating in Malta, do not take cargo, because cargo means more expenses (longer time at airport, more paperwork, insurance costs, delays etc). In fact they focus only on passengers, because that is where the money is. In Air Malta’s case, it is obliged to offer cargo services because otherwise a good number of Maltese export companies would have a serious problem on their hands – especially the ones whose products are time-sensitive. Even food importers would have a hard time – no “fresh” salmon, for example, would be available. Apart from all the above, one has to factor in incompetent management, freebies to politicians, board members, ex board members and hundreds of others – hundreds of people enjoying free flights, upgrades etc. Air Malta has, for years, been sponsoring sport and cultural events, not to mention the support the airline gives to Maltese citizens travelling for treatment abroad – the low cost airline are conspicuous by their absence in these matters. So basically, when we compare Air Malta’s prices with those of low cost airlines, we would not be doing a like-for-like comparison… At the end of the day, the Nationalist party has, since day 1, been against the very concept of a national airline. For years they boycotted Air Malta, and since 1987 they have been slowly slowly eroding Air Malta’s very foundations, because that is what their agenda calls for.

Its either that the airline including new management and boards and ministers are doing their damnest to kill Air Malta or they must have all escaped from the loony bin. Why did I just pay Euros 236.52 to go and come to Spain at very civil hours on two separete Low Cost Airlines and the Air Malta site as I write quotes Euros 753.17 for a worse service as it has to go via a German airport? I try to bend backwards to fly with Air Malta but My conscience would kill me knowing I paid nearly 220% more. Can anyone enlighten me???

Why is anybody suprised at what false statements PBS prepares in it's News Room. One look at it's journalists will make it clear what the missions of this station organised by nepotism are. Except for maybe a few older journalists, the rest were hired to kiss ass with this administration. The last names tell the story. Especially when they pay to be nominated for awards. How pathetic! Add to that the mediocre programms without any substance and one can easily conclude how unreliable this national station has become. A bunch of blue eyed boys appointed by Austin Gatt whose only qualifications seems to be looking greasy and scream at the camera. Like the operations at Air Malta these state entities are only there to serve protect and produce self indulgence to the chosen few. Disgraceful.

What a short memory everyone has. Have everybody forgotten that this government lumped the whole industry with steep untility rate hikes and increased the VAT on accomodation at the same time, both of which hit the hotels and restaurants extremely hard. There was no talk of strikes then and none of the unions involved in the present dispute were even mentioned let alone backed the MHRA in any way. Ever considered how many employees owe their daily bread to this association and yet the fact that ALPA has, after it was practically isolated by the other unions, accepted to go to the negotiating table instead of striking is no reason to slam the MHRA in it's endeavours to represent, not only the hoteliers, but also the thousands employed in the hospitality trade. Let's keep things in their right perspective even if the suspense of the last few days seem to have clouded many people's reasoning powers

MHRA Malta Ħ**A and Restaurants ASSociation. PBS = His Master's Voice = PN

Will the MHRA join ALPA tomorrow for this manifestation.........................hahahaha. Of course not. First they let Government screw everything up. Then when it comes for the workers to protest for their rights (and in this case for the basic right of their Company to be properly managed) they shy away. Next time we will hear anything from MHRA is when the COLA increases will be announced. Which have to be quite hefty from the inflationary figures just published.