Airline Pilots Association Malta has accused government of marginalising Maltese pilots and weakening long-term career prospects at KM Malta Airlines, as disagreement deepens over the airline’s recruitment strategy.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the union said it remains focused on protecting the airline’s national character and operational safety, while strongly criticising comments made by Clyde Caruana in parliament during an exchange with Ivan Castillo.
The dispute stems from plans to recruit direct entry captains from overseas to address staffing pressures following the restructuring and closure of Air Malta. Caruana has maintained that government will stand by the agreements reached during the 2024 transition, insisting that ALPA accepted the framework at the time.
ALPA objected to the minister’s repeated references to pilots as “children”, saying its members are highly trained professionals entrusted with passenger safety. The union pointed to recent operations in severe weather, including during Storm Harry, as evidence of pilots’ competence and professionalism.
The association confirmed that under the 2024 ERS liquidation agreement, senior captains are already leaving the airline, with 10 departures expected in March 2025 and another 15 in March 2026. It warned that the current policy risks preventing Maltese first officers from progressing to captain roles, despite meeting required standards.
ALPA said it has submitted alternative proposals designed to preserve career pathways for local pilots while limiting the need for extensive recruitment of foreign captains. The union questioned whether the present strategy effectively prioritises overseas hiring over Maltese expertise.
It also rejected Caruana’s claim that KM Malta Airlines has previously relied on foreign pilots, stating that none have been employed since the airline’s establishment. Limited foreign recruitment, it said, occurred only under the former Air Malta and was carried out with union agreement to address short-term shortages.
Caruana has argued that the union entered negotiations voluntarily and that changing course now would amount to moving the goalposts. He warned that yielding to pressure could repeat mistakes of the past, adding that foreign recruitment remains a fallback option if local pilots leave due to stalled progression.
ALPA said it remains willing to engage in talks with government and airline management, stressing that the issue goes beyond industrial relations and touches on the future of Maltese aviation skills and the identity of the national carrier.