A Chinese recruitment agency has been hired to engage temporary captains and first officers for Air Malta, just weeks after a new collective agreement for cockpit crew was signed, Times of Malta has learnt.

As the national carrier dealt with disruptions, flight delays and cancellations in recent weeks, partly the result of a shortage of planes and pilots after more services were introduced, the Chinese recruitment agency sought to attract pilots interested in joining Air Malta over the summer months, offering lucrative pay packages substantially higher than those enjoyed by permanent staff, civil aviation industry sources said.

According to Wasinc International, China’s largest recruiter for flight staff, airline captains opting for a three- to six-month contract with Air Malta would receive €10,000 a month. They would also enjoy free accommodation for their family, including utility allowances for water, electricity, gas and internet.

First officers, too, are being recruited temporarily.

The package offered includes a pay of up to €5,000 a month apart from perks such as free accommodation, free flights for families and bonuses.

'Odd' choice

It could not be established on Thursday whether Air Malta had approached the Airline Pilots’ Association about the temporary recruitment arrangements and the conditions on offer.

However, it seems that Alpa would only settle for first officers being engaged.

READ: Pilots refuse to fly Air Malta's latest plane... and then change their mind

Air Malta cockpit staff sources expressed concern over this latest move, saying it was indicative of the “complete mess” the airline’s management was in.

“Just a few weeks ago, the company made an agreement to make pilots more flexible and work more hours. Now, they realised that what they agreed to is not enough. The amount of money they are throwing away is incredible, apart from the reputational damage they are causing. But that is what happens when an airline is managed by a politician,” a veteran pilot said.

The same sources also deemed it “odd” that the recruitment was being done by a Chinese company, which normally served Asian airlines.

Questions on the matter sent to Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, who is politically responsible for Air Malta, remained unanswered at the time of writing.

Neo Airbus A320 Neo

The Times of Malta has also been informed that the ‘new’ Airbus A320 Neo, expected to join the Air Malta fleet was originally destined for a Chinese company. The plane, which was due to be delivered weeks ago, had already been painted in the livery of Beijing Capital Airlines, a member of the Hainan Group.

However, the Chinese airline decided to delay delivery to later this summer and the plane will now come to Malta.

In a statement issued on Friday, Air Malta said the plane would join the airline's fleet that same day and had already been added to the Maltese aircraft register as 9H-NEO. 

The aircraft has been sprayed in Air Malta colours in Shannon, Ireland, and will sport comic characters on the fuselage to promote children’s TV channel Nickelodeon as part of a deal on a treasure hunt event to be organised in Malta next year.

In its statement, the airline said the A320 Neo would operate at significantly reduced fuel, emissions and noise levels. .