Green party support government-EC talks for subsidies for Air Malta

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said the national airline had been used by successive government as an electoral tool to employ people “for reasons that have nothing to do with economic viability.”

“At the same time, the management of the airline has failed to make the company viable, even after all Air Malta workers signed a memorandum in 2004 which include wage freezes and at times deductions in order to help the situation.”

Briguglio said various strategic mistakes were by the airline and supported by the government. “It must shoulder the political responsibility for the present state of affairs which are in part a direct consequence of to the mistaken strategy which Air Malta embarked upon.

“AD believes that the Air Malta issue should not transform itself into one of hard-headed or partisan bickering. We are foursquare behind government negotiations with the EU to defend the strategic importance of the airline whilst conforming to EU policy on efficiency. In this regard, workers should be fully informed about the situation of the airline.”