The Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association has said today that “the news that Cyprus Airways was closed down following instructions by the European Commission for the company to pay back its state aid must be taken as a wakeup call by all the stakeholders of Air Malta particularly the employees of the airline who seem to think that Air Malta will never go bust.”

“They now have a reality check with what has happened to Cyprus Airways.” MHRA added that it has already stated that it finds it “completely unacceptable that the cabin crew are taking industrial action to stop restructuring changes from being implemented.”

“The Maltese citizens have spent over €150 million of their money through the government of Malta to save the company and their jobs. By their actions the cabin crew are risking the loss of this huge public investment if Air Malta closes down.”

The Association pointed out that “the cabin crew or the people working at Airmalta are not the only stakeholders of the Airline. The Maltese public through their Government’s investment and the many thousands of people who work in the tourism, manufacturing and financial services sector are also the stakeholders of Air Malta.”

These will also be affected. Given this nationwide involvement in the destiny of Airmalta, MHRA stated that it now feels that it is time for the management of the company to make it clear to employees that they have two choices.

“Either to accept the necessary restructuring which will enable Airmalta to survive or else to find another job outside the company. It is not acceptable that the livelihood of many thousands outside Airmalta are threatened by a few Airmalta employees who have had conditions of work which most Maltese can only dream of.”

“For example which loss making company will provide a chauffeur driven service from the place of residence to and from the place of work? Which company in Malta offers practically free travel to all its employees and their spouses? The list goes on free health benefits, practically free travel even after leaving the company and so on, MHRA stated.

MHRA said it calls on the management of the company to implement the restructuring necessary and immediately as failure to do so will result in Airmalta failing. “Those employees that do not want to participate in saving the company by cooperating with the restructuring should leave now and allow others to move on and cooperate to save the company.”

“It is not acceptable that a small minority of employees holds the nation to ransom,” MHRA concluded.

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