Air Malta ‘mismanagement’ to blame for 17-hour Palermo delay – pilots
Air Malta pilots have accused their airline of “mismanagement” and shifting the blame of its shortcomings onto them.
In a hard-hitting statement reacting to a 17-hour delay on a 30minute flight between Malta and Palermo, pilots’ union ALPA yesterday said that its own investigation showed that this was another case of mismanagement by the airline.
The captain scheduled to operate to Palermo on the morning of 9th September was transferred to operate Catania instead, as the originally scheduled captain on Catania did not have the minimum legal rest between his previous flight and the Catania flight thus requiring him to step down from his duty.
Air Malta management routinely delays flights so that crew can avail themselves of their minimum legal rest periods, ALPA said.
Mismanagement within the higher tiers of the company is undeniably causing passenger inconvenience and heavy financial losses to the company. ALPA members are currently working at their legal limits and have been prevented from availing themselves of last year’s vacation leave entitlement, despite the union’s various complaints in this respect. This has been a major contributor to a spike in fatigue experienced and reported by our members.
International Civil Aviation Organisation defines fatigue as a physiological state of reduced mental or physical performance capability resulting from sleep loss or extended wakefulness, circadian phase, or workload (mental and/or physical activity) that can impair a crew member’s alertness and ability to safely operate an aircraft or perform safety-related duties.
Fatigue is a known causal factor in aviation accidents and incidents. Management incompetence is leading to a higher incidence of fatigue among Air Malta crew, ALPA claimed.
ALPA reiterated that the current problems stem from the fact that Air Malta does not have enough pilots.
According to Air Malta, last Monday’s delayed flight was due to “unexpected” scheduling challenges, including a plane being struck by lightning and several crew members calling in sick.
MaltaToday reported that after the 5:30am flight to Palermo (KM662) was delayed, Air Malta resolved to have its flight to Amsterdam effect a quick turnaround at Schiphol airport, and fly back to Malta to take passengers to Palermo at 10pm.
However, Air Malta’s plan to have the Amsterdam flight take the Palermo passengers at 10pm was thwarted by several delays – MaltaToday reported – among them allegations that crew ignored company instructions.
While the Air Malta flight to Amsterdam was scheduled to leave Malta at 12:40pm CET on Monday, the departure had to be pushed to 2pm at the start of the standby captain’s working schedule.
After a 30-minute delay due to late crew boarding, the flight left for Amsterdam. Soon after departing at 2:40pm, the flight was informed to speed up to its destination and effect a quick turnaround, that is, prepare for an earlier return from Schiphol airport back to Malta, so that it could take the stranded passengers to Palermo.
The source who spoke to MaltaToday said the airline was hoping the plane could be back in air within 45 minutes of landing in Amsterdam.
Yet although landing in Amsterdam at 5:36pm (CET), at 6:45pm the airplane had still not made its turnaround and was still on ground.
MaltaToday was told that the plane had not started refuelling upon landing, and that Air Malta officials were informed the pilot had gone out to purchase flowers from inside the airport terminal before any refuelling could take place. The action resulted in a longer turnaround, and the plane only left Schiphol at 7:50pm.
Air Malta is currently training new First Officers and considering a new recruitment drive to address this shortfall. ALPA welcomes this development but is disappointed that its calls to management for more crew during the new collective agreement negotiations were ignored and is only doing it right now, whilst the airline’s customers bear the brunt of management's deficiencies.