Pilots’ union ALPA has responded to allegations an Air Malta pilot caused a flight delay by shopping by criticising airport ground handlers and mismanagement.
After a flight to Palermo was delayed by 16 hours due to pilots calling in sick and lightning striking a grounded aircraft, claim the airline, an airport flying back from Amsterdam to take the stranded Palermo passengers was delayed by the pilot purchasing flowers in the terminal, according to a MaltaToday report.
“It is a complete smokescreen intended to cover management shortcomings,” an ALPA executive committee said in a statement, referring to the report.
“The [Palermo] flight was retimed with a 17-hour delay by the company so that crew operating from Amsterdam would then head on to operate to Palermo as well. Ground handling support in Amsterdam did not manage to get cleaning services onboard on time, thus extending the delay in Amsterdam.”
The union went on to call the allegations against the pilot “shameful tactics” being used by the airline, adding that its members were working at their legal limits and that management incompetence was leading to a high level of fatigue among its member, which could be dangerous.
Air Malta replied in a statement, saying: “The case mentioned was about a delay on an Amsterdam flight, operated by this pilot, that had a further ripple effect on Monday’s delayed Palermo flight.”
“The alleged behaviours of some members of the pilot community are unacceptable. This weekend 13 pilots reported sick and this has constrained operations. These unprecedented sick leave figures are clearly not in line with industry norms. The airline is disappointed that a disproportionate amount of management time is being dedicated to addressing unreasonable industrial disputes.”
