Cleaning firm accuses KM Malta of favouring rival with ties to airline chairman
Floorpul files judicial protest against national airline over plane cleaning contract
A cleaning company has accused KM Malta Airlines of favouring a rival firm linked to the airline’s executive chairman, David Curmi.
Floorpul Limited, which said it has provided aircraft cleaning services for the past 10 years, has now filed a judicial protest against the airline, accusing it of disregarding a “glaring” conflict of interest in the cleaning contract.
The cleaning company claimed KM Malta Airlines recently sent out an email to several “chosen but unknown” companies requesting cleaning services for aircraft landing in Malta.
"KM Malta Airlines chose Aviation Services Handling Limited (C-103226 / C-102283) to carry out the work," Floorpul Limited said, adding it had been unable to appeal the decision or verify that the winning company has the necessary licence to operate.
A judicial protest is a formal court notice used to assert or protect one’s legal rights by officially warning another party and is sometimes the first step towards a legal case.
Floorpul Limited named Aviation Services Handling Limited in its protest but also included two separate company registration numbers.
Company number C-103226 refers to the firm it named in its judicial protest, while C-102283 refers to a closely related operator, Aviation Services Handling Malta Limited.
Floorpul did not name the director it alleged has a conflict of interest, but public filings indicate that it is Curmi, who leads KM Malta Airlines management.
Curmi is listed as a director of Aviation Services Handling Limited (C-103226), which is in turn majority owned by Aviation Services Handling Malta Limited (C-102283). Air Malta PLC is also listed as a shareholder in the company.
Curmi is also listed as a director of KM Malta Airlines (C-106851), the state-owned airline.
Floorpul has one listed director, Paulette Gafa.
The company said it contacted KM Malta Airlines through its lawyer on November 3 but received no reply to its letter.
"This is a glaring conflict of interest as directors are unilaterally conceding services amounting to many thousands of euros to other companies they are directors in," Floorpul said in its judicial protest.
The company called on KM Malta Airlines to annul the provision of services, disqualify the company to which it was awarded, and instead award the contract to "companies that are in line with the law."
Lawyer Edward Gatt signed the judicial protest.