Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1044434
26 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 OCTOBER 2018 WE'VE had a lot of positive news and developments about Air Malta recently, but this is the one we have all been waiting to hear for so long. The growth strategy adopted by the Air Malta management team and ap- proved by its board of directors is now showing tangible and positive results. The process of change and turna- round of the airline's financial posi- tion required a change in strategy and a list of difficult decisions with cal- culated risk. Way back in June 2017, shortly after re-election, the Govern- ment was facing outdated collective agreements for all Air Malta employ- ees, which included pilots, cabin crew, ground handling staff and engineering staff. As Ministry for Tourism, we put in place a formidable negotiating team aimed at closing off negotations on collective agreements with all unions and sections involved in the airline to ensure maximum industrial peace throughout the following five years. From then on, the airline started implementing changes. We started off by changing the pricing model of the airline, offering a different product range and introducing an unbundled product fare. This, in turn made the airline more competitve across differ- ent sales channels, especially on online sales platforms. The increase in competitiveness led to increasing passenger numbers across all routes the airline offers services to. In spite of this, the airline registered passenger increases every month when compared to the previ- ous year. The unbundled product, more commonly referred to as 'the go-light product', proved to be a suc- cess to increase load factor across all routes and attract more passengers travelling on short trips. In terms of fleet size, the airline also added two new aircraft to its fleet, one of which being an Airbus A320- neo, Airbus's latest A320 model. In spite of the current ageing fleet, the management was also careful to lease in 'younger' aircraft so as to poten- tially minimise maintenance costs and delays registered by the airline due to technical problems. Since June, the airline has added 21 new routes in total and has introduced the concept of intra-european routes, connecting Catania and Caligari to Malta and to London, and being the only airline to connect these two loca- tions. All this summed up contributed to such an achievement of Air Malta financially breaking even for the first time in 18 years. This is not the end, but hardly the beginning. In the com- ing months the airline will be embark- ing on a fleet replacement programme aimed at replacing its old aircraft with newer, younger aircraft. In this respect, the airline has already finalised the nec- cessary paperwork to lease in two new Airbus A320 neos in its fleet as part of its fleet replacement programme. Apart from the fleet replacement programme, the airline will be looking into new initiatives with regards to innovation, technology and better service. In fact, after revamping the catering service in economy class, the airline will shortly be introducing an upgraded business class product in order to enhance its in-flight experience. We look forward to working closely with the current Air Malta manage- ment to keep achieving positive results and to make sure that Air Malta positions itself as the airline of the Mediterranean in the months to come. Air Malta - back on its feet No such thing as an innocent bystander Evarist Bartolo Evarist Bartolo is Minister for Education and Employment IN comments during the Syn- od of Bishops a couple of weeks ago in the Vatican, Archbishop Charles Scicluna was asked on what can one tell someone who has faced sexual abuse. He answered that there was little to say. "I prefer to cry with them as has happened to me many times." He was quoted as saying that the initial mourning, and silence, was followed by "an enormous thirst for truth and justice, which is not incompat- ible with mercy because we all need mercy," he said, but not a "hollow mercy" that does not respect the truth. This quest for justice is some- thing very much in line with that of Pope Francis. Amid what Time Magazine last week called 'a global crisis', the Pope continues to take a hard line on abusers, as well as an effort to increase transparency. Last week the Vatican took the rare step of issuing a state- ment to explain the reasons behind the defrocking of two more Chilean prelates accused of sexually abusing minors. Such steps in the past were confined within the walls of the Vatican and not made in such a public way. This shows a will to change, to be transparent and to start being more account- able with the public. That is the first step. History is shaped by those who make things happen and those who allow these same things to happen. In situations where sexual abuse on minors takes place, there are no by- standers. There are aggressors, accomplices and the victims. On the other side there is the rule of law of a democratic society. Evil can take the shape of many forms and it doesn't always come in the shape of brute force and bellicos- ity. It can also take the form of silence, the philosophical closing of one eye or creating a circumstance of intentional unawareness. There are, in- deed, no bystanders. At least not the innocent kind. In a small country like Malta, but perhaps especially so in a smaller society like Gozo, the notions of omertà and silence are seen as badges of honour. But they're not. They're a shame that not only denigrates today's victims but also tomor- row's. Because history has shown that when such things are allowed to slide by, there will be victims tomorrow and the day after and the day after, until something is actually done about it. The medieval concept still present today, which is that of canon law working in parallel with civil law, as if they're two parallel but distinct processes, means that often justice is not always served. A Church that is above and apart from society is harmful for the Church and for society. It certainly is not seen as being served. Abuse by men of the cloth is serious because communities often look up to them and place their trust in them. It also depreciates the value of what the Church has to offer and the good work done by many other honourable individuals in the clergy and in religious orders and organi- sations. People who despise the Church will see the sexual abuse scandals taking place and take shots at the institu- tion and try to increase its relevance. But the Church has a role to play in our societies. The sexual abuse scandals throughout the world, and which have also engulfed our country, have to be acted on and seen as an opportunity to do what is inherently right and morally correct. To set in stone the principle that civil law is the foremost law of the land, and everything is by definition secondary to it. Justice processes which are apart and above the country's rule of law are morally wrong. When such sad episodes are uncovered these have a very emotional and destabilising effect on the community. But what good will it be if we don't take the necessary steps to af- fect the change we need? The important changes to make our communities safer. The important changes to make our schools safer. Alex Cutajar Alex Cutajar is Communications Coordinator, Ministry for Tourism In Malta and Gozo the notions of omertà and silence are seen as badges of honour. But they're not