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Air Malta denies mass lay-offs are part of airline's restructuring programme
Air Malta categorically denies reports that the airline is planning to dismiss 1,000 employees.
12 November 2010, 12:00am
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
2 min read
The national airline has denied it will lay off 1,000 employees as part of the conditions floated for a restructuring programme in a bid to succour Air Malta, which is expected to post €50 million in losses.
“A substantial number of airlines in Europe have over the past years and months undergone similar restructuring processes to ensure long term sustainability in an ever increasing competitive aviation market,” the airline said in a statement.
The airline said speculations on its financial performance for the current financial year were “premature… particularly since the current financial year ends in March 2011.”
But even General Workers Union secretary-general Tony Zarb yesterday confirmed Air Malta’s losses, €17 million of which were registered in summer alone.
The airline is taking on a defensive stand since MaltaToday first reported the extent of its problems this week. “Air Malta would like to appeal for factual and prudent reporting in the media as speculative and wrong information – as has appeared in the media this week – could lead to wrong perceptions or misconceptions which could be commercially damaging to the airline.”
Formal discussions with the unions have already started and the airline will also be communicating directly with its employees to update them on the developments.
Air Malta would said a substantial number of airlines in Europe and around the world have been engaged in ongoing restructuring ever since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. “Air Malta is not immune to the challenges being faced by the aviation industry and has been carrying out a structured restructuring exercise since 2003. The airline points out that since 2003, it has managed to reduce its staff compliment by over 600 without resorting to dismissals.”
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
Alfred Galea •
The PN govt. has, during the past 25 years, almost always had a budget deficit and has upped the national debt to over 4 billion euros. The voters kept on voting them in time after time. Blame yourselves not them, they got something out of it, you guys got a pipe....you made your bed, you lie in it.
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Tal Hamrija since you are such an expert, how come the Prime Minister did not ask for your advise?
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Only last week we had nice words about the economy and tourism; a week later disaster strikes. Can Tonio Fenech-the accountant- tell us WHERE and WHY he has hidden the loss of Air Malta in the budget? And the debt of Ene Malta? These entities belong to whom? Why were.nt the millions of EneMalta's debt included in the budget? If included in the budget, the deficit, and debts would show that GonziPN's budget is simply an "Alice In Wonderland" fairy tale. Where is everybody?
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Nobody ever learns unfortunately. Everyone is talking about what happened and what will happen. No one is asking WHY and HOW.
In short we are reacting to the news without understanding the news. If this was a medical situation we would be saying the arm has gone numb and now now we need to amputate. No one is discussing the cancer that caused it. Cut a limb and then what, cut the other?
In fact this is what has been happening under PN with Austin Gatt leading the pack - cutting one appendage after another - an ear here, a finger here and now with Air Malta we are talking cutting off a leg as far as employement and the economy is concerned. Of course the effect of the desease have been felt for many years - this Air Malta leg taking a toll on the whole body through expensive travel costs and inefficiency but that is because more and more of its resources were being sapped by canvassors on payroll, nationalists voters wanting a job and PN con-men.
From the PN point of view, it has been a great success - they have become millionaires many times over, the party coffers are full and have bought their hold. The damage done is too high and the consequences are there for all to see. Off course new scams/schemes are talking their place - like betting (as long as you pay hundreds of thousands to PN front company Belmed) and smart city could have been another if Claudio Grech and friends did not not take out millions before it ever got on its feet.
You had the desease for a long time and did nothing. Too late to complain now about right and wrong.
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Malta -the maltese people:) The majority of maltese people are being manipulated -by the two major political parties- if one tells them move to the right thye move to the right- and if the other tells his people to move to the left they move to the left- that's not fair you brain washing politicians- I wish the maltese people open their eyes well and see that they are being treated like puppets( the majority) look at other countries how they do the people when they aer being hurted from politicians- thye do thier own ways- not being manipulated by the politicians- In the end both of them are there for just who will win the game to be in goverment- and moving the maltese people with carrots... I believe that one day the maltese people will stand on their feet- and starts to fight for their rights.....
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A substantial number of airlines in Europe have over the past years and months undergone similar restructuring processes to ensure long term sustainability in an ever increasing competitive aviation market,” the airline said in a statement.
ok- so - I think the maltese people- especially who works with Airmalta needs to know more - well the results are losses of millions- How and what will you be doing? and when and how and if will be solved? answer those- allready ben restructuring since 2003 ;-)- I think at least mr.Tonio Fenech was a bit honest in his saying :) its too late now the damage had been done to AirMalta- so like he said in the future other airlines wil be part of AirMalta- mr.Conti, just say the truth :) sooner or later it will come out:)
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for me results that count. in football goals in the net that count. the result of the pn is mismanagement of the money of joe citizen. nothing worked anymore under pn...banks...lotto...telephone...post...dockyard...gas and now it is the turn of Air Malta. This time it is the golden egg. Leave it for the next election because you have no mandate of such move from last election. the votes will be the examiners result.
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Is Air Malta the new Dry docks? Its too late to complain about fair or unfair. Its like passive smokers - if you hang around inhaling smoke, saying nothing, and now have lung cancer - well you will pretty much die. Corruption works the same way.
Alfred Galea •
Get outside auditors to investigate WHY all of a sudden the natioal airline is bleeding profusely. How much did it cost to bring all those voters during the last two elections and EU referendum and whers is the money going.....
All this didn't happen in the last six months. Where are the investigative reporters of the PN Times?? Where are Dafnay's Diggers?? Where's Where's Everybody and its two top clowns?
Alfred Galea •
Get outside auditors to investigate WHY all of a sudden the natioal airline is bleeding profusely. How much did it cost to bring all those voters during the last two elections and EU referendum and whers is the money going.....
All this didn't happen in the last six months. Where are the investigative reporters of the PN Times?? Where are Dafnay's Diggers?? Where's Where's Everybody and its two top clowns?
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@Gabuna fixxa
hah - that was my exact thought last time to travelled to Brussels - that i was the only sucker who had paid a ticket. And yes - its like a PN convention heading on a bus for the Xalata. You have nailed it.
Michael Gauci •
@macami
I am not blaming the lower class, the worker (sic).
It is just that the wokers (sic) 1,000 of them at least are not needed and never were.
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@ tal-Hamrija
Why don't you stop your b.. .......g. Who knows if it were you or your next of kin. One must least forget "IL-HNIZRIJIET" THAT HAPPEND IN THE COMPANY DURING THESE LAST YEARS: Azzurair, RJ70s and the top persons continue to fill thier pockets. Why don't you agree that the mismanagemnt costed 90% of the airline's present situation. The easiest way to blame this situation, is the lower class, the worker.
Raymond Falzon •
1500 employees for 12 planes.........
Kulhhad irrid jirda
Michael Gauci •
@gabbuna fixxa
What you are talking about has nothing to do with the situation and I dont give a toss about the EU.
Common sense must prevail. Twelve aircraft does not mean 1,400 employees. Sack at least 1,000.
Luke Camilleri •
What about reducing salary structures and perks lay-offs of Top Management?
After all they are in it as well and should shoulder some of the blame, they are not holier and untouchable just because they are Gonziappointed!
As for the multitask ex-Go / Airmalta Chairman Sonny Portelli , is this why he took up the appointment especially with his experience at downsizing at GO plc.... after placement of identified blue eyed boys, some even with Aiormalta after taking terminal benefits from GO?
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@Tal-Hamrija. I travel once a month to Brussels, and most of the time I wonder whether I am the only one who has paid for the air ticket! Ministers and the many boys and girls with PN pedigree travel business and first class; they know the city and its hot spots more than they know Valletta. Indeed, sometimes I wonder whether they see it as a continuation of Valletta nights in Belgium, or a xalata! Not to mentoin the thousands of civil "servants" ( they have been screwing us in winter and in summer by thier thousands) who ply Brussels once a month and stay in 5 star hotels screwing...the Maltese taxpayers? Hopefully, you are not one of them.!
Michael Gauci •
@truth
Strange name for someone who likes to see over 100 staff per Air Malta Plane.
1,000 must go,they are doing nothing but screwing the Maltese taxpayers.
Alfred Galea •
Bet you Capello and his management team aren't worried about the demise of the national airline.
Alfred Galea •
WHO was speaking on behalf of the airline?? The CEO?? The Chairman??
The airline said this and the airline said that.......the CEO should come right out and say how many employees MIGHT be affected, including how many on management, that way the media would not report "speculative and wrong information" but will report exactly what comes from the horse's ass.
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What if it were you tal-hamrija?
Your support for workers is amazing tal-hamrija.
Michael Gauci •
I dont see why not as there are certainly at least 1,000 too many.
