Malta Air staff in Italy to stage walk-out during nationwide airport strike

Pilots working with Malta Air in Italy will stage a four-hour walk-out between noon and 16:00 on Saturday 15th July, in participation with the country’s nationwide airport strike.

A joint statement issued by Italian worker unions involved in transport and aviation (Uiltrasporti Nationale, Federazione Italiana Lavoratori Trasporti -CGIL, and Federazione Nazionale Ugl Trasporto Aereo) said, “on Saturday 15th July from 12:00 to 16:00, there will be a national strike by the pilots of Malta Air company which operates Ryanair flights.”

According to the unions, the airline has not been respectful of the flight crew’s contribution to the its marked increase in profitability.

Malta Air is a subsidiary of Ryanair Group and a joint venture with the Government of Malta.

Italy’s airport control and handling staff will also be on strike, with check-in and baggage handling services expected to be cancelled or severely disrupted between 10:00 and 16:00.

Flights between 7:00 and 10:00, and also flights between 18:00 and 21:00 will not be affected since they are within what are considered, protected time slots, according to the country’s Civil Aviation Authority.

Preceding the airport strikes on Saturday, will be a nationwide railway strike on Thursday 13th July, involving Italy’s national rail company Trenitalia and private operator Italo.

The strikes being carried out by workers of the country’s transport sector are primarily over concerns related to work conditions and pay. In light of booming tourism figures brought on by a post-COVID-19 surge, the strikes are expected to disrupt plans for countless travellers.