Alternattiva Demokratika has said that any restructuring process at AirMalta should strive for a balance between financial sustainability, workers rights’ and the strategic importance of the airline.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said, “AirMalta has been used by successive governments, including the Nationalist Government since 1987, 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. During the years, various strategic mistakes were also made by the airline. These were supported by government which has to 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 AirMalta issue should not transform itself into one of hard-headed or partisan bickering. We are four-square behind Government negotiations with the EU which 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.”

Michael Briguglio added that unless made viable, the plain truth is that AirMalta would not survive in the context of liberalised aviation markets

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