The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA, has said that, “we are now facing unprecedented times for our economy and it is therefore the moment of truth for Air Malta to live up to expectations.”

In a statement, it stressed that, “unless Air Malta can come forward with the support of ALPA to help the economy recover then the reason for having a national airline is extinguished.”

“In such difficult times for our economy, in particular for the tourism sector,” MHRA said that it appeals that all parties at Air Malta “must align their efforts and energies towards one goal – that to keep Airmalta flying for the benefit and welfare of the Maltese people and economy.”

Significantly, this objective underlies the rational for the creation and thereafter all the investments made by Government and the Maltese taxpayer in AirMalta over the past decades to keep it operational, the Association said.

MHRA said that it recognises and “salutes the efforts and sacrifices which the majority of the Air Malta employees, similarly to those employed by its members, are currently experiencing.”

MHRA asserted that “cost cutting measures introduced by management across the travel, hospitality and tourism sector at a global level have not been motivated by profitability goals but rather by efforts to survive this crises.”

It went on to point out that the continuous battles between ALPA and Air Malta management are now “seriously jeopardising every effort which Government is carrying out to reignite the economy.”

Without entering into the merits of who is right or wrong MHRA remarked that it is now “high time for ALPA and Air Malta management to realise that shooting at each other’s foot will only aggravate matters not only for Air Malta but more significantly for the thousands of employees and operators whose livelihoods depend upon the travel, hospitality and tourism sector.”

MHRA remarked that “ALPA cannot pretend to be treated by exception and that all stakeholders are expected to share the burdens caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

MHRA concluded by saying that it has always been at the forefront to advocate in favour of doing whatever is possible to keep Air Malta flying because it has always argued that Air Malta would be critical in helping the Maltese economy recover should one day be hit by difficulties.

In response ALPA said in a statement, that it had noted the comments made by MHRA, particularly “where they expressed their opinion that – ALPA cannot pretend to be treated by exception and that all stakeholders are expected to share the burdens caused by the COVID 19 pandemic.”

ALPA argued that, “it has offered to carry more than its fair share of the burden, through significant pay cuts offered to the company which go well above the 10% pay cuts that Air Malta’s management have taken to date.”

It went on to remind the MHRA that a final offer by Air Malta was withdrawn a few hours prior to it being put to a vote. “Air Malta has sought to exploit the Covid-19 pandemic to effect permanent degradations to its pilots working conditions.”

To date, Air Malta has not offered to resume talks aimed at streamlining the company’s operations and averting the redundancies that ALPA’s members have suffered, it said.

The Association concluded by saying that it has repeatedly expressed its “willingness to participate in meaningful and effective discussions aimed at reaching an agreement with Air Malta, however Air Malta’s management has continued to act in bad faith as recent events have demonstrated.”

Therefore, ALPA cannot guarantee that no further disputes will arise and that further industrial unrest will not materialise unless a solution is found.

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