The situation is a result of past agreements which formed part of KM Malta Airlines’ transition from Air Malta. In an effort to reduce its wage bill, the company offered early retirement packages to its most experienced pilots, whose higher salaries reflected their seniority. Many accepted lump-sum payouts in exchange for definite contracts during the handover period — a phase in which the airline maintained largely the same operations under a new name. It now appears those contracts are nearing their expiry, and the airline is preparing to ensure it has sufficient cockpit crew in place to maintain its schedule going forward.

Pilots at KM Malta Airlines are currently operating without a collective agreement, as none has been signed since the airline’s launch in March 2024. Talks between the union and the airline are understood to still be at a preliminary stage. In the meantime, pilots remain bound by individual contracts issued during the transition from Air Malta.

While some sources argue that the company’s current plan risks demotivating its existing first officers, others caution that the airline must also prioritise operational continuity and flight safety. Some have questioned whether it makes sense to expect compromises in airline operations to preserve an employee’s future promotion prospects.

Others are asking how a new airline, launched to move past the baggage of its predecessor, has found itself grappling with that same baggage just over a year later. Internal options to manage the transition include striking a balance between external recruitment and local promotion, renegotiating return terms with early retirees, or establishing clear pathways to promotion for internal candidates once they reach the required hours.

Neither KM Malta Airlines nor ALPA has issued a public statement on the dispute. Both have been contacted for comment but no response has been received.