Hasty and “unstudied” decisions to add more services to Air Malta’s schedule have been blamed by civil aviation industry sources for recent flight disruptions.
The national carrier experienced at least four extended scheduled flight delays over the past few weeks, leaving passengers stuck at airports for long hours.
The sources said on Monday the delays were the result of hasty decisions by the board of directors lately to expand the airline’s schedule without ensuring it had adequate capacity to meet the expected demand.
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To cope, Air Malta had to lease aircraft that left a lot to be desired even in terms of efficiency and image, they noted.
“If you leave such decisions to the last minute, as is happening now, all you get is what is ‘left’ on the market, getting the oldest and most inefficient aircraft,” they continued.
The Times of Malta is informed that Air Malta wet leased aircraft from a Lithuanian company that are as old as 28 and even 30 years.
Engineers will make no compromise on safety
Apart from fuel inefficiency, ‘older’ aircraft were more prone to being grounded for long periods at other airports pending the arrival of replacement planes or until repairs were completed.
In the case of a small airline such delays would be even costlier as they would disrupt other services scheduled to be operated by the same plane, the sources said.
Read: Passengers on Palermo flight delayed 13 hours by fuel leak
“This is the nightmare scenario Air Malta wanted to avoid as it strives to get back into the black. These ‘bad’ options risk forcing the airline to reverse the savings made recently by reducing human resources and cutting expenses like the meal service”, the sources added.
Asked for its comments on the situation, Air Malta said the short-term wet leases were necessary as the delivery of the ninth aircraft was delayed by the leasing company by a few weeks.
It said the plane would join its fleet later this month.
“As announced, a new Airbus A320neo – the 10th – is expected to join the fleet in mid-June”, a spokesman added.
This plane was originally expected to arrive in May.
The aviation sources pointed out that, though ‘old’, it did not mean the aircraft were unsafe.
“The Air Malta engineering department normally has the last say on which aircraft are leased... they have high standards and will make no compromise on safety,” the sources noted.