Air Malta confirms 511 job cuts; to talk with unions over strike action

Air Malta CEO Peter Davies has defended his decision not to divulge the exact number of job cuts in different sectors of the company at a meeting with employees on 24-Jun-2011 stating the job cuts are "not yet finalised" and the plan contains "commercially sensitive information which will only benefit our competitors" (Times of Malta, 29-Jun-2011). Mr Davies stated the airline will elminate 511 position across the company. The restructuring plan, drawn up by Ernest and Young, reportedly calls for the dismissal of 57 pilots, 53 cabin crew, 21 engineers, 190 ground handlers and 190 office workers. The publication of the report has caused the carrier's pilots to threaten strike action. Mr Davies confirmed he would be meeting Airline Pilots Association president Domenic Azzopardi on 30-Jun-2011 in a bid to avert strike action. The Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika criticised the government's handling of the situation.