Air Malta flights return to normal

All Air Malta flights operated as planned so far today, the airline said.

"The airline's management is pleased to confirm that all pilots rostered today are carrying out their duties with their normal professionalism and commitment to providing safe and reliable service to our customers," the airline said in a statement after having had to cancel flights due to an abnormal level of sickness amongst pilots.

Yesterday the airline enacted its contingency plans to minimise disruption to customers. Whilst the airline was forced to cancel its services to and from Milan Malpensa and Benghazi, most passengers were rerouted on the same day. All other passengers were provided with assistance.

Air Malta was also able to re-instate the cancelled service to and from Newcastle, by leasing an aircraft to cover another charter flight. Many passengers were affected by lengthy delays to their services. The airline's ability to provide passengers with timely and accurate information was impacted by the late notification of sickness from some flight crew.

"We regret that over 2,000 passengers were inconvenienced unnecessarily and that over €500,000 in costs were incurred at a time when the airline is striving to breakeven," Air Malta said,

The airline said that 17 pilots were on sick leave when normally it would expect an average of between two and four pilots to report sick.

"Only the ALPA Executive Committee and pilots involved know what control each had over the unfortunate spike in crew sickness. Had ALPA chosen to encourage their healthy members to help crew flights, then less passengers would have been disrupted.

"Air Malta remains committed to develop a positive working environment with our pilots and ALPA at all times."