Air Malta employee early retirement schemes ‘being drawn up’

The statement, issued on Tuesday, dealt with a meeting between Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and Vice President Joaquin Almunia, EU Commissioner for Competition.

The meeting, the statement said, was covered a number of issues including Air Malta, the Commission’s State aid investigation into the modification of the boilers at the Delimara power station and the upgrade of the tourism zones in the Qawra, Bugibba and St. Paul’s Bay area.

“On Air Malta, Minister Fenech informed the Vice President Almunia of the ongoing discussions with the stakeholders, in particular, the trade unions.  The restructuring plan is due to be forwarded to the Commission in the coming weeks,” the ministry said.

“The Commission guidelines require that the restructuring plan includes the divestment of loss making activities, including the elimination of loss making routes, and this will mean that the number of employees will need to be reduced,” it said, adding that “early retirement schemes are currently being drawn up.”

“Regarding the ongoing State aid investigation into the modification of the boilers at the Delimara power station, the Commissioner informed the Minister of his intention to bring this investigation to a conclusion in the coming weeks,” the ministry said.