The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) said that 10 KM Malta Airlines captains have left the airline since the early retirement scheme came into effect, with a further 15 expected to depart next month.
The scheme, which offers experienced pilots early retirement packages of between €750,000 and €1 million, came into force in 2024 following long negotiations between ALPA and the government.
However, ALPA is now raising the alarm after KM Malta Airlines announced it is recruiting direct entry captains.
PN MP Ivan Castillo argued that the direct recruitment of captains, possibly foreign nationals, from outside the airline will hinder the career progression of first officers, who don’t yet have enough experience to get promoted.
Dr Castillo warned that these younger pilots could eventually end up leaving the airline if they realise they don’t have a chance of getting promoted to captain.
However, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana insisted that he would rather resign as minister for the airline than budge an inch from the negotiated package.
“I didn’t negotiate with children, and I’m sure ALPA knew what they signed,” he said.
Dr Caruana stressed that he won’t repeat “the mistakes of the past”, where constant renegotiations and side letters placed an unsustainable financial burden on Air Malta that ultimately led to its collapse.
In its latest statement, ALPA said that highly knowledgable and valued Maltese pilots with huge potential will be prevented from progressing to captain due to the recruitment of foreign direct entry captains.
“ALPA has already presented several constructive proposals aimed at safeguarding the career progression of young Maltese First Officers,” he said.
“A number of these proposals would also spare the Company from having to pursue such an aggressive recruitment plan — a plan which, despite our concerns, the Minister remains adamant about implementing.”
"ALPA therefore questions whether this outcome was always the intended direction: to sideline Maltese talent in favour of foreign recruitment.”
“Does the Minister genuinely believe that these young professionals are not capable of becoming the future Captains of Malta’s national airline?”
