Routes that are unsustainable for Air Malta could be important for other sectors, GRTU warns

The General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU) warned yesterday that the changes that Air Malta considers necessary cannot and must not lead to a regression. “On the contrary, if carried out wisely and skilfully, they could not only take Air Malta out of its troubled state but result in growth. The GRTU however warns that this will not come automatically and serious homework and groundwork are required.”

Air Malta’s contribution to our economy must be sustained and refined, the GRTU said.

“The government must ensure that there are no stop-gap measures, so that enterprises can have continuity, and for this to be successful, planning must go beyond Air Malta’s restructuring.

The GRTU said it appreciates that for the strategic partnership to be successful, routes that are unsustainable will have to be dropped. However, this is only acceptable if the figures are still guaranteed by tapping into emerging markets. The government must be very careful in doing this because certain routes that are unsustainable to Air Malta might be sustaining numerous sectors and enterprises in Malta’s economy.

Alternative carriers must be encouraged to take up these routes immediately after they are released by Air Malta. The airline’s restructuring must take place without the expense of losing the market share the country has earned, it said.

The GRTU pointed out that an increase in our incoming tourism figures has always naturally moved in parallel with growth in the private sector, as incoming tourists sustain much more than the sectors that are directly associated with tourism.