KM Malta flights delays expected due to pilots' industrial action

Updated 12.28pm

The pilots' union has kickstarted a series of industrial measures, which could disrupt KM Malta's service and lead to flight delays. 

The industrial action came into effect on Monday morning, after the Airline Pilots’ Union informed its members of the directives. It comes following an impasse with KM Malta Airlines over certain working conditions. 

The directives are expected to affect flight time departure, as pilots have been instructed not to allow passengers to board the aircraft until the fuelling procedure has been completed. 

Pilots were instructed to attend the pre-flight briefing only during their assigned duty time and not before. Those assigned standby duty according to the roster can only be contacted during their standby time.

Members have been directed not to accept any changes to the planned roster until duty time.

Aircraft must use the full runway length for both departures and arrivals, unless otherwise instructed by Air Traffic Control. Pilots will inform ATC that these are part of the industrial action.

Routine announcements before takeoff and during descent must be made solely in Maltese, except in emergencies or unusual situations.

The union informed members of the industrial action on Friday, following a breakdown in communication between the company and the union over what it says are issues relating to its members’ safety and well-being. 

The union also raised the alarm with the company over the method by which a pilot can lose their license in the case of disciplinary action.

KM warns of legal action

The management described the actions as disproportionate to the nature of the disputes in question.

Consequently, the company said it is reserving the right to take legal action against ALPA and individual members to recover any financial loss it may suffer because of the action.

KM Airlines executive chairman David Curmi said in previous correspondence that it made it very clear that the company is not prepared to enter into any side letters or agreements to amend a set of general employment conditions that ALPA agreed to 16 months ago.

The airline said a draft of the latest seniority list was submitted to ALPA on July 15 for feedback, but no comments were received. Management acknowledged that disputes over seniority are common and invited ALPA to propose corrections, which would be investigated and potentially addressed.

It also said it is not aware of any issues relating to this insurance cover other than a specific claim made by an individual pilot. 

After 50 years in operation, Air Malta packed its bags and was replaced by KM Malta Airlines back in April 2024.

Speaking to Times of Malta, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana slammed the "greedy" and "unjust" industrial action taken by the pilots.

Caruana described most of these issues as relatively minor, saying that the union is objecting to how pilot recruitment is taking place, despite this having previously been agreed when Air Malta was closed and KM Airlines opened.

Ultimately, Caruana said, the union’s actions “go against the public’s interest and the interests of clients”.

In a press statement, KM Malta Airlines said all KM Malta Airlines flights are expected to operate without any cancellations.