Airline pilots imply Clyde Caruana wants to favour foreign pilots over Maltese
ALPA says its proposals are being ignored and ask if Finance Minister has ulterior motive
Airline pilots have suggested that Clyde Caruana’s refusal to “move one inch” in an ongoing dispute is because the intention all along was to “sideline Maltese talent in favour of foreign recruitment.”
In a statement on Friday, the Airline Pilots Association said that the Finance Minister seemed adamant on an “aggressive recruitment plan” despite it having presented various proposals “aimed at safeguarding the career progression of young Maltese First Officers.”
“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?” it asked.
The union is currently locked in a months-long battle with the government that dates back to a deal signed by pilots and cabin crew in 2024, as KM Malta Airlines’ predecessor Air Malta was being wound down.
In July 2025, ALPA issued work-to-rule directives to pilots. The union has previously said the dispute is linked to issues related to work conditions and say the government's position will effectively limit career progression for existing first officers hoping to become pilots.
Caruana has said that the union in reality wants to renegotiate parts of that 2024 deal, allowing pilots to continue working without forfeiting massive early retirement golden handshakes.
“They all knew what they negotiated. For as long as I am the minister responsible, I will not change a thing,” he told parliament this week. “I am not ready to do what previous ministers did and cave in because an election is approaching and they're held at gunpoint.”
ALPA withdrew its directives in October, saying it was doing so out of goodwill to help negotiations move forward. But both sides remain in a stalemate.
In its statement on Friday, ALPA said its members were honouring the 2024 deal.
Ten pilots left the airline in March 2025 and 15 more are due to leave this coming March, it said.
The minister was saying that Maltese and Malta-trained first officers would be “prevented from progressing to Captain due to the recruitment of foreign Direct Entry Captains,” the union said.
KM Malta Airlines has not employed any foreign pilots so far, it added.
The union said it took exception to the minister referring to ALPA and its members as “children”.
“ALPA members are highly respected aviation professionals who collectively possess decades of experience flying the national flag. They continuously shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding passengers’ lives, and ensuring the highest level of safety. As witnessed recently during Storm Harry, ALPA members continue to perform their duties with diligence and professionalism, as is expected of them,” the union said.
It said it remained committed to talks with the government and KM Malta to resolve the issue.