Air Malta is to be sold to Air China
Published:
November 1, 2014 at 10:47am
I have it on the best authority that negotiations are underway for Air Malta to be sold to China’s national airline and flag carrier, Air China.
I imagine that details of this secret deal will begin to emerge in the media in the coming days.
The Opposition should press for parliamentary scrutiny because an island with a population of under half a million cedes its autonomy by selling off its key strategic assets to non-democratic China. We are not in the same position as incomparably larger and economically powerful EU member states.
There’s got to be a big commission on this deal somewhere: maybe two clocks.
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In an address by the PM to the China-Malta culture and media forum here in Malta – just two days before the 50th anniversary of independence – and which has remained a secret from the media here in Malta, the prime minister said:
“Stressing the role of tourism in facilitating cultural and personnel exchanges, he said, “that is why the issue of direct aviation links between the two countries is high on our agenda.”
This must be what the Prime Minister has in mind when he talks about the Blue Silk Road. And key to this would be the link up between Air Malta and Air China.
But there is more. There is the sea route part of the Blue Silk Road. So the Prime Minister went there as well.
“Malta hopes to play its part in the new Maritime Silk Road as a convenient and well equipped port and staging post in the center of the Mediterranean with easy access to continental Europe and North Africa,” he said.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=242005
Towards the end of 2013 – when George Vella was insisting that everything was normal in Kiev while the international media was reporting on major protests – Malta’s prime minister was expecting a visit by the Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich on his return trip to Kiev from China. In China, Yanukovich had met the Chinese President Xi Jinping who invited the Ukraine to join the Economic Silk Road.
It is time for the media and the Opposition to put a debate on the Silk Roads and their implications to Malta on the national agenda, because it seems that the Prime Minister is moving on with that agenda when he is in secret meetings with the Chinese or behind the people’s back in China.
The take over of Malta by China is taking place as we speak.
The EU needs to start monitoring these new silk routes. Silk may be the new word for people.
The agenda for an air link between China and Malta is totally unrelated to tourism. It is more likely to be related to the traffic in people and to the dumping of Chinese goods into European and North African markets.
A small step for the national airline, one giant leap for the nation. May these would-be overlords fight it out with the current lot, and may the lesser bullies win.
Ciccio, I’m very aware it has nothing to do with tourism nor culture. It’s a subtle cultural infiltration they are opting for. If PL they were interested in promoting tourism, they would be looking at the Japanese market not the Chinese.
And for the American market. I’m wondering how many tourist arrivals can be attributed to that New York post given to the friend of the Wife Of the Prime Minister.
“Air China is buying a controlling stake in Air Malta.”
http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2014/04/muscats-in-the-coming-days-we-will-announce-important-news-turns-out-to-be-the-equivalent-of-kmbs-centezmu-rohs-fil-prezz-tat-ton-taz-zejt/
Before we know it, our children will be forced to learn Chinese just like we were forced to learn Arabic in KMB days.
Evarist Bartolo is thrilled that Confucius institutes will infiltrate schools.
http://www.the-report.net/malta/jun2014/910-interview-evarist-bartolo-minister-for-education-and-employment
What is equally important is that we have a Confucius Institute in Malta based at the university which teaches Chinese and we are working with this institute to also start Mandarin Chinese in our schools.
Over my dead body.
Varist=Mousy Tung
Considering we have been incapable of teaching either English or Italian, not to mention written Maltese, to our youth, I think you need not worry about that.
At which point does the Opposition say enough’s enough?
Iż-żejjed kollu żejjed. Se nibqgħu sejrin hekk? Ibellgħulna u aħna nibqgħu siekta?
Jekk se nibqgħu nibżgħu għax minħabba l-job u għax minħabba t-tfal u għax minħabba elf ħaġa oħra se nispiċċaw taħt madmad u mbagħad ikun tard wisq.
In-Nazzjonalisti ghandhom 30 membru tal-parlament. Kollha ghandhom jobs stabbli. Il-bicca l-kbira minnhom self-employed. Hadd minnhom mhu se jitlef il-job. Mela x’qed izommhom? Ignorance or connivance?
Why are you complaining?
It’s going to get easier to hold a protest in Tienanmen Square – in front of “The Great Hall of the People” – when those direct flights into Beijing commence.
Now I’m off to book my flight.
May I suggest Hamilton Travel, Orange Tours….
…mind you, it’s also going to get easier to taste some delicious Peking duck.
I made an exception yesterday and watched the part of Xarabank with Konrat and George . The audience clapped when they heard the nonsense coming out of Konrats mouth and booed George when he reminded them that Sai gets €13,000 a month , what can the opposition do when faced with a population of this calibre , they are the majority after all.
[Daphne – What do you mean, population? That’s the handpicked Xarabank audience.]
In-Nazzjonalisti mhumiex il-parlamentari biss, huma dawk kollha li jaqilgħu l-ħobża ta’ kuljum , min jaħdem mal-gvern, min mal-privat, u dawn huma dawk li jibżgħu joħorġu jipprotestaw għax jibżgħu minn xi vendikazzjoni. Imma nerġa’ ntenni jekk se nibqgħu nibżgħu nipprotestaw, se naslu f’ġurnata li nibdew nibżgħu anke noħorġu mill-bieb ‘l barra aħseb u ara nitkellmu.
U fuq il-kwistjoni ta’ Xarabank u l-udjenza…. dik tkun magħżula. Agħmlu bħali u tarawhx aktar…. forsi xi darba jispiċċa darba għal dejjem u minflok Xarabank nibdew naqbdu xi monorail.
Rosie, Xarabank is a stupid programme for stupid people. It has always been like that. We did not know that Peppi had lost his balls, now we know
It’s not that Peppi has lost his balls. Apparently it’s a requirement to air Xarabank: one must deposit his balls in advance with the Ministry of Broadcasting, the Police, the Army and National Security. They will be held in safe custody.
Precisely. There is no difference between Peppi’s Xarabank and Bundy’s Affari Taghna. Selected audience in both programmes.
It’s called ‘canned response’. Hollywood sitcoms have canned laughter. Xarabank has canned clapping and canned booing.
There could also be an illuminated sign that lights up telling the morons, I mean audience, to clap/boo according to who’s talking since they may not know who’s who and may not be able to understand what’s being said.
Hekk hu. Kullhadd jikkritika imma hadd ma jrid jiffronta sidru jew jimbaghad. Everybody likes the job of armchair critic.
Xarabank is big in North Korea. I’m amazed it’s not a hit in Shanghai.
According to Malta Today’s Trust Barometer, prime minister is 14 points ahead of Simon Busuttil . That should answer your question.
Forget Switzerland in the Mediterranean, that’s so in the past eh.
Welcome to minuscule China in the Med.
A Honk Kong in Europe is more like it.
Tajwan tal-Mediterran.
Fast forward to 2016. We are now unofficially a canton answering first to Beijing.
Our national energy infrastructure and all those employed are China owned and run under Chinese work practices.
If we peep, we are threatened with dismissal, price rises or worse. The Chinese government dispatches its ambassador to interfere in Maltese press freedom.
Our national airline, our pilots and our crews and other employees are all Chinese owned and so now our tourism industry also depends upon Chinese management directives.
The ripple effect is disastrous for our democratic well being. Trade unions are rendered useless and helpless.
For a few million euros and for a menial “trahhis” in our water and electricity bills. How cheap these communist bastards bought us for.
You don’t know how much else China’s paid the PL and its rotten leadership.
Hope all the Air Malta employees who switched to vote Labour because they were sure Joey would save the company are happy now to see what they have thrown themselves into.
Too bad the saner people are going to bear the brunt of their stupid reasoning. This was all planned and no amount of chairman musical chairs would have changed the flightpath.
All I can say is that Davies had put Air Malta on the right track, but obviously that put a spoke in the proverbial wheel.
So we had eighteen months of free for all to those tal-qalba amid resignations and appointments to cancel out any sign of recuperation of the airline.
Throw in the Libya crisis as a God-sent scapegoat and Joey is laughing all the way to Beijing…able to sell Air Malta off for a song on the excuse that it is almost bankrupt and there is no other course of action that he can take.
He bankrupts the airline and then presents himself, and his paymasters in China, as its saviour.
Can the EU intervene in such matters ?
No.
It can and actually did when Alitalia was negotiatimg with Etihad. Having said that, the deal went through just the same. I believe the deal was tweaked and then approved.
Apparently when Air Berlin was bought by Etihad there were no protests from Brussles since it was not of strategic importance, not being a national carrier.
The electorate has to refuse this outright.
Well, technically, the EU already has. Non EU airlines can’t buy more than 49.9% of an EU airline.
So? If Air China owns a critical percentage of Air Malta, however small, they call the shots.
A minority shareholder can control a majority shareholder through the former’s financial clout and through something called a shareholders’ agreement which is of course never disclosed until the knives come out.
The limit is a joke. The Chinese can secretly finance a Malta registered company which in turn buys a minority stake in the airline. So the Chinese would have 30% direct and say 30% indirect through the Malta registered company. That would be controlling interest for management purposes.
Prime Minister Muscat thinks it’s time to turn the clock back: China is the new Libya.
http://www.shao-linslc.com/images/Chinese%20Clock.jpg
I bet Dominic Azzopardi, Mister Simone Cini, is thrilled at the prospect.
By the way, what happened to the inquiry about the report that he caused a 30-minute delay in a Milan-Malta flight when he arrived late together with his family and gave instructions for check-in be reopened so that they could make it to the flight?
Konrot Mizzi is holding it up his sleeve to publish it as another diversionary tactic in March 2015, when the derailed power station would be due for inauguration.
Could this be the reason why so many chairmen decided to quit?
That’s a very significant question .
That is the question…. and the answer.
I have no doubt that all will revealed during some Nationalist Party fund-raising event such as a coffee morning or a ‘serata flimkien ma…’. Keep texting us boys, it’s doing wonders for the morale.
I would love to know what is ALPA’s take on the subject..will they be running up the steps of Castille again anytime soon?
Daphne int biss trid tkun biex taghtina l-ewwel ahbar, (prosit) fejnhom tat-Times u ta’ Malta Today. Issa aktar qed nifhem ghaliex nies bhali u hafna ohrajn maghdomx jixtru u jaqraw dawn iz-zewg gazzetti.
Inheggeg il-qarrejja tieghek biex wara li jaqraw il-blog tieghek, jaqraw il-kummenti tal-Maltarightnow, ghax intom it-tnejn biss qeghdin tikxfu l-qerq ta’ dan il-gvern giddieb.
Unbelievable. How serious is this source? Proof please.
[Daphne – Do you imagine that after 25 years in this business I repeat gossip and hearsay? ‘Proof please’ – just accept it. You’re scrutinising the wrong person here.]
The reason why PL is fil-gvern…not seeing the wood for the trees.
Really Heineken, you’ve been had.
It’s on the news already
You’re so full of it: Heineken.
I’m switching to Amstel.
Well, that’s the last time I am ever going to fly Air Malta. Or are we now going to find ourselves with Air Malta being the only airline flying to and from Malta?
KM will be rebranded as Air Desserta,
Possibly stupid question here, but can they do this given that it was not in their electoral manifesto?
They did it with the sale of Malta passports and citizenship.
It was on the roadmap. The roadmap takes precedence over their electoral manifesto.
And the MOU signed in China in 2010 takes precedence over the roadmap – before you ask.
We’re talking about a Labour government here. Of course they can do something not in their electoral manifest. They can also do the very opposite of what they promise.
Daphne, you have always been very reliable in the information you post on your blog but selling Air Malta to Air China is far too crazy to contemplate.
People expect journalists to ask direct questions to government about its plans for Air Malta.
People also expect an immediate, categoric and unreserved denial by government failing which we will have to start believing that this is true.
Air Malta employees and the Maltese public would never allow such a sale to go through.
[Daphne – ‘People expect journalists to ask direct questions to government about its plans for Air Malta.’ No doubt. But then people also expect the government to answer those questions. Journalists, however, no longer do. This is a government that refuses even to do its constitutional duty and subject itself to scrutiny by the Opposition in parliament, let alone journalists. There are other ways of finding out.]
Warning bells have been ringing loudly for the seemingly deaf Nationalist Party leadership when this government “refuses to do its constitutional duty and subject itself to scrutiny by the Opposition in parliament”.
It doesn’t take rocket science to put two and two together and realize that the government is learning a few I democratic strategies from the Beijing Dictatorship and is becoming more repressive day by day.
The greatest danger facing us is incredulity, the thought that the PL government could not possibly do this and worse. We’d better start believing that they can – and they will.
Just look at the pattern of what has been happening these past two years and the answer presents itself on a plate. Everything is inexorably being taken under direct government control, and since it’s China that’s pulling the strings, ultimately under Chinese control.
Do you think it’s a coincidence that the only entities, the army and police, that can enforce democratic rule of law are slowly being emasculated, with the latest outrage against the police force revealed lately? Wake up, not only to the Nationalist leadership but to the rest of the people in this country – indeed to the European Union.
What is happening in Malta is BIG and will have a ripple effect on the rest of the region. Perhaps we should take Tony Zarb’s advice u ninzlu fit-toroq. Never in post-Independence Malta has our sovereignty and democracy been so much under threat – not even in Mintoff’s and KMB’s times.
Nationalist MEPs should galvanize into action and bring these issues to the forefront in the EU, and press a major panic button. We have to act now before all this damage becomes irreversible.
“Perhaps we should take Tony Zarb’s advice u ninzlu fit-toroq.”
I agree totally in principle to do this, but I have written comments on the Times on line that had this to be done, old and new Labour thugs will attack again, and there will be bloodshed once more.
Why is it too crazy to contemplate? Was it crazy for this government to be elected when it had no concrete plan, no sense of direction?
It did not need any roadmap because Joey knows what makes the Maltese mind tick: the clink clink of a few cents and in this case we got the chink chink thrown in for good measure.
Imma he delivers, jghidulna lis-switchers.
It is a pity to see that people were really conned into believing that there would be a real change (from what, I often wonder). The only issue was that memorandum he signed right under the previous government’s nose. That was the real crazy part in all this sordid saga.
Like Enemalta employees and the Maltese public stopped Jo and KonRat from selling selling Enemalta to the Chinese?
7 Deserta wrappers equalled 1 Chinaman. The Air Malta fleet plus the BWSC power station equals the whole Maltese population, the brand new citizens and more to spare.
An opposition leader with balls would have warned all those acquiring a passport that they would forfeit any assets and passports upon a change in government.
An opposition leader with balls would have warned the Chinese government that there investment in Enemalta does not constitute a proper privatisation and that Enemalta would be re-nationalised upon a change in government.
An opposition leader with balls would again warn Air China that the Air Malta would also be re-nationalised upon a change in government.
Matters such as our nationality, as well as those of strategic importance to Malta such as our power station and airlines can never, should never be under the ownership of foreigners. If the PL opposition made it inherently clear that Arriva would not survive if they were elected, the PN should do the same with other sectors of strategic importance.
We do however need to start by having a leader with balls, or at least, one who can grow a pair. And if Simon Busuttil will not do so, then he’d better make way for anyone else who will.
[Daphne – I don’t agree with you at all. The reason I and so many others support the Nationalist Party is because it is NOT like that. You seem to want the PN leader to be a sort of Mintoff, issuing threats of seizure of other people’s assets. I would be the last person to approve of anything like that.]
Daphne, I am not asking for anyone to agree with me, least of all yourself. What I do ask is that the party I voted for stands up for what is right, and in this case, it is the long term interest of Malta. I do not believe that these are threats, but advance warnings, a sort of clear cavaet emptor statement.
[Daphne – Yes, they are threats. And what is more, they are abusive threats. The rule of law must always apply. If something is done legally then it cannot be undone, and if something is not done legally then it follows that it can be undone and the issuing of ‘advance warnings’ is inherently redundant. If you were thinking clearly, which you are not (unless you are innately totalitarian in outlook), you would understand without it needing to be explained to you that the same rationale has been used by other governments, in Malta and elsewhere, to seize assets ‘in the interest of the people’. Who is to decide what the people’s interests are?]
So first Muscat sells Maltese passports to dubious individuals under dubious conditions much to the disdain of the whole European community, creating a security issue on both a national and European level.
He then starts to sell of strategic assets such as our power station and our airline to despotic regimes under very dubious conditions. And strategic assets is key here. I would hardly object to the selling of other assets as the nationalists did, when they emptied Malta’s silver cabinet. And yet they did not assets of such strategic importance.
Just imagine Daphne – we are placing ourselves in the same situation as much of Europe which is dependent on Russian gas, and which at Putin’s whim, may be forced to endure a very cold winter. So we upset the Chinese and lo an behold, we’re stuck on this island with no power and a lot of shady individuals running around toting Maltese passports.
If the government appears to have stopped acting in good faith, by selling off these assets on the basis of pre-electoral agreements, and disregarding the potential long term effect on Malta, then as leader of the opposition (which I thankfully am not) would be crystal clear that come 2018 (2023 or 2028 at this rate) will not respecting these specific agreements that undermine our country’s own existence.
And if the cost of this would be to be called some sort of Mintoff then so be it. But at least people would remember me for having stood up to be counted (ha the irony of that) by telling this government that enough is really enough, and that being in government does not give them the right to trample all over the electorate while they line their pockets at everyone’s expense.
I apologise to your readers if I may come across as totalitarian in my comments, which is hardly the case in fact.
My outlook stems from the time when, as a child, I walked the same streets alongside people holding PN flags. These are the very same people who came under fire from riot police the week after – my father, my uncle and my older brother were in the crowds at tal-Barrani and Rabat. Yes, the government still did as it pleased, but at the time we, they and probably even you did all that you could, standing up proudly in the face of adversity. I was brought up to speak up when things were not right, as and to fight for what I believed in.
Yet today, we seem to be slowly relinquishing what little control we have left of this country’s strategic assets and what is more, is that we are sitting back passively as it is being done. We simply seem to be taking it all in our stride, as the government rapes and pillages the country.
Who is indeed, to decide what is in the people’s interest? Well, if our government decides to start placing the family jewels (as distinct from the famly silver which has long been sold off) in someone else’s hand, we must all brace ourselves or the impending pain when they chose to clench their fist.
We have only one energy generating plant and only one state controlled airline. Clearly strategic. Giving these to the Chinese, or anyone else at that, can never be in the people’s interest.
I’m with Osservatore on this one.
If these deals are the result of Labour’s secret agreement with the Chinese government, which they are, it’s nowwhere near totalitarian to disclaim someone else’s attempt on our sovereignity.
Sovereignity in this case being a physical consequence of an abstract, having an airline and our own power supply, not to mention access to free internet these days, isn’t that different to speaking a language.
And then there’s the minor issue of a government being obliged to issue a call to interested parties.
Who said it must be Air China?
It’s a bit like the passport scheme, we still do not know who got those. I think it’s only due to revoke those which will result intolerable and plainly against protocols issued.
I am not going to take sides, because both positions have pros and cons.
But, as Jozef points out, the Labour government is proceeding with disposing of important stakes (30% is not a small stake in Enemalta, and 70% is not a small stake in BWSC) in the country’s “strategic assets” to China using a preferential basis. This is not a legitimate basis in the disposal of public assets, where a bidding process should be open so that anyone interested is given a fair go. As far as I remember, the oath of office of the prime minister and his ministers says that they will carry out their duty without fear and favour.
This is in fact the point that troubles me most. Why are no expressions of interest being opened for the disposal of, or the involvement of “strategic partners” in, these public assets? How can we know if we are getting the best deal? And that is not only in terms of the price paid, but the name, values and other non-tangible factors that a bidder may bring along.
And what transparency has been used in these deals? None. They probably feature on an MOU that was signed secretly in 2010 by the then Leader of the Opposition while in China, and about which this country got to know from the Chinese media, after the matter was revealed on this website – which no one reads. So how can we put our mind at rest that there is no corruption going on behind the scenes?
This is making our membership of the EU a joke. Since I suspect that there are no rules in the EU to deal with situations like this, and Joseph Muscat would know that, he may be taking full benefit of these loopholes.
It is the good sense of good governance that guides a government to do the right thing. And it is clear that this government has no good sense and no sense of ethical behaviour whatsoever. (Which reminds me, what happened to the brrrrikkkssssa?)
I am not necessarily suggesting that the PN should promise to re-nationalise the airline or Enemalta. Once a party is in government, it can regulate, legislate and do all within its powers to align or cripple any shareholer in the strategic assets of the country. So there may a case in letting these asset sharks spend their money here now, while making them aware of the risk that a democracy entails, and then once in government, protect the interests of the country first.
Daphne, when the bad guy resorts to violence the good guy’s only way forward is use more effective violence. Example:
Nazis vs. Democracies 1939-1946
The PL is not doing things legally but using legalities to sell Malta to the communist Chinese. In fact Simon Busuttil had already threatened that new citizenship purchased through Henley & Partners IIP would be undone if process is found defective.
Somewhere, somehow, right should rule over wrong. Good should substitute evil.
Let’s not get carried away please.
I wouldn’t use bravado as Osservatore’s suggesting, balls and all that.
Is it just a rumor that Joseph Muscat recently bought a 6,000,000 Euro property in Sliema?
[Daphne – Yes, just a rumour. And it was Eur2 million when that rumour started quite a while back: http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2014/01/no-the-prime-minister-and-his-wife-are-not-buying-villino-zammit-in-sliema/ ]
I do not think that Joseph Muscat is stupid enough to buy (a) a multi- million euro house during his time in office and (b) buy it in Malta.
He will definitely do that, with the millions that he would have cashed in, together with his friend Keith Kasco, in ten years’ time.
Did they say they want us to be like Singapore? Or Hong Kong?
Had the prime minister mentioned Hong Kong, he would have given the game away. So no, it’s Singapore and Dubai. In the meantime, we are in the transitional period, so for now we are with Antigua, Barbuda, St.Kitts and Nevis – the Banana Republics.
I am one with Rosie here.
I was not watching Xarabank, Joe Azzopardi literaly makes me sick, but my wife was and I could hear the clapping and the booing from the other room and those were my thoughts exactly.
Don’t be so sure about selected audience and even so I still firmly believe that the majority are a bunch of morons which does not augur well for this country.
This government is blatantly and unashamedly skewering us and still they clap.
Herbie, do not forget that them type are on TV, they have to look happy and meant to be into the discussion come circus
Malta is in the mess it’s in for lack of a majority prepared to choose wisely.
The Xarabank audience might be handpicked but it does not have to be; ignorance comes naturally and the PL know that.
Chi comanda fa la legge!
I am not at all surprised that part of Air Malta would be sold. I remember that Joe Pathological Liar, had once let it slip out thst Air Malta needed a strategic partner. Well now we have this “mistress”. China.
Okay so Alfred Sant got it wrong when he said Swirzerland in the Mediterranean. It is going to be China in the Mediterranean, paybe another Chinese province.
We just have to wait and see, then act accordingly. Thank goodness that we are members of the EU, because if not we could lose our sovereignty.
Do not point fingers at the PN or it’s leadetship, point your fingers and those who switched from PN and voted in this government of CONMEN!
Now is time to wait and see, then it will be up to us to put our foot down, when the time is right. What can we do? Convince as many as possible, with hard facts the incompetence, financial irresponsibility, mismanagement and downright deceit of this government. Day by day, we have to have more and more faith in the PN leadership and move when the time is right.
Well, I for one when the deal with China goes through I WILL NOT FLY WITH AIR MALTA.
Then you stay in Malta. The only airlines to fly to and from Malta in future will be AirMalta and AirChina.
Are safety standards likely to drop? I have a couple of flights with them already booked for next year.
No. It’s not the way these things work. Air China will probably just be the controlling share holder, but beyond that it will still be the same Air Operator’s Certificate, which means it will still be subject to the same European standards, checks and so on. The people, brand and almost everything else will remain just the same.
Just as Etihad has large stakes in Air Berlin and Alitalia, but you wouldn’t notice it. The real issue is of course ceding control of your flag carrier when you are an isolated island nation, which incidentally, I distinctly remember being Labour’s reason for protesting against LCC service to the island.
That is why the PN driven plan to make Air Malta sustainable was purposely derailed. If Air Malta is viable, it can’t be sold with the excuse that there is no alternative. Was Air Malta ALSO part of the 2010 deal?
Can you imagine how the value of the Air Malta slot at Heathrow will shoot up when full loads of Airbus A380 (800 passengers) on direct flights from China via Malta land there?
And this is yet another very blatant lie by Muscat. He had vowed that Air Malta would NOT be sold. So this is why they are driving it into the ground.
It is all part of a strategy for the Air China takeover, and by the way that gives Air China rights in Europe and the open skies agreements. Alarm bells really do need to sound now if this is correct.
AIR DAJNIH
That’s exactly what Air Malta employees must be saying…
I think you’ve got your title wrong Daphne, delete ‘Air’ and leave the rest.
If selling a bankcrupt entity like Airmalta which is loosing millions everyyear involves a hefty commission, I wonder what the commission was when they sold Mid Med Bank to HSBC, when Mid Med Bank was making millions in profits????
[Daphne – Yes, Frank, I was wondering about exactly that a couple of hours ago with somebody else who wondered quite the same thing. But John Dalli won’t take the phone when I ring, so I can’t very well ask him. Maybe he’ll take the phone from a Muscat supporter like you, so you would do well to ask him yourself. His number is 79422964, but don’t tell him I gave it to you.]
Fenominali Daph, excuse the abbreviation but it just sounds better.
How convenient to mention Dalli,
As far as I know he was not the PM at the time so may I suggest you call Eddie Fenech Adami. Who knows maybe he will answer you.
The truth is we have the politicians we deserve. .
Lorry Sant and the Labour Party literally got away with murder.
No one will pay for the corruption of the last 25 years and no one will pay for any corruption that will be carried out by this legislation.
It is not ‘convenient’ to mention Dalli. You have to mention him.
When you are on the phone with him, ask him also to explain the circumstances surrounding the sale. Ask him for details of where he discussed the sale with Eddie Fenech Adami and where the latter was at the time. Let Dalli furnish the details.
Daphne once again you are breaking the news. Please take good care of yourself. I don’t know what we would do without you.
If this is a joke. I am not laughing.
Vote for Europe and hey we get China.
Why are the Nationalists on here complaining…they tried with air melita with the british in the 60’s big fail…..then in the 70’s they said “ghasafar tac comb” Air Malta will never take off…40 years on now that the PN put it 6 feet under…oooh we’re selling everything…!! PN sold all Govt assets LOTTO,Airpor..Banks…but that’s ok…!! Bunch of hypocrites…
But they did not sell the whole country to China.
Oh, and please keep in mind that those who are anti Socialist are not necessarily Nationalists.
You can recognize the moles and sleepers from their spelling and punctuation.
Especially if they are avid contributors to Timesofmalta.com comment boards and facebook page.
By Dion Borg: “mela tat tajjeb ghadu milli hall il PN…qas computer go ufficcju ma hallew..!! Buffu kollu…!!”
https://www.facebook.com/timesofmalta?fref=photo
Authentic.
Nsomma Dion, ara x’ghamiltu inthom.
Ghax il-lottu kien strategiku ghal pajjiz. U spjega l-kelma ‘banek’.
When in 1972 Mintoff was in tough negotiations with the UK, involving also Italy and NATO, on the rent for the use of Malta’s military strategic facilities, and the West had its eyes on not letting these being made available to the Soviet Union, Mintoff was secretly negotiating with Communist China, and no sooner was a deal struck with the West that he flew to mainland China, set up diplomatic relations with it and renounced those with Nationalist China that was completing the building the two road tunnels under Ta’ Gioni.
But Mintoff never sold strategic national assets to a foreign government. As rightly pointed out, selling Malta’s energy source to China, and possibly the national airline to China, would make us vassals of the new superpower.
We already are.
Muscat is forgetting that he has to face his colleagues of the European Union.
What is Cameron’s reaction going to be? And forget Merkel.
I’m confused?
What’s the game plan?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10377750/China-buys-up-Britain-as-politics-takes-a-back-seat.html
Beingpressed, there’s no game plan, at least not until everyone understands how China works.
Politicians and their propensity to be re-elected renders them fragile subjects to manipulate.
Fejn hu Toni Zarb? Fittxu sibuh ghax issa daqshekk!
What a slut.
I truly believe that the Chinese now have Muscat by the balls having brought him to his knees following a secret treaty that would be revealed if he doesn’t dance to their tune while being in a position to drive our economy to the ground and then they take over. It’s happening in Africa and South America.
You are right. The media and the Opposition must insist on Muscat publishing the document (MOU) he signed in China in 2010.
Oh the irony of it all… http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20040430/local/opposition-against-sea-malta-privatisation.124091
Kemm hu laghqi.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-10-31/blogs-opinions/Joseph-Muscat-does-a-touche-6736124736
@andrew azzopardi – you can just have said that you wanted a post or a new position or whatever. In this apocalyptic mess I am sure we can take it. There was no need to be so subtle…..gravi!
“Love him or hate him, for Joseph Muscat the end justifies the means.
The process is secondary what is important is the product, the ending, the performance indicators (if we want to go managerial lingo).”
Is this person serious? We have really reached the pits.
Some private lessons in English will really help you, Andrew Azzopardi. Don’t worry, your iced bun must be on the way.
What is important for Muscat is the headline.
Just been down to Sliema with kids. I never knew it was twinned withTripoli.I can accept refugees or asylum seekers but I can’t accept a load of rich hypocritical Muslims. These people are loaded with cash, dodgy visas and expensive cars with foreign plates. Does Transport Malta pull these cars over. How long are their cars permitted to stay on the island. Are they insured or vrt’d ? Who is responsible if they crash into somebody. What happens when their visas expire and their cash runs out?
These people are financing our country somebody told me, they weren’t two years ago though I replied
It will be irrelevant soon though as half of them will be Maltese and they will able to vote.
Salam
Then expect Lufthansa to leave and Air China to bring its Chinese sweatshops to the Luqa hangars repairing Air China planes.
Another valid reason not to fly with Air Malta. Not that I have done so for many years. I shall not pay its exorbitant fares to subsidise the hundreds of Taghna Lkollers employed by the Labour government. I couldn’t give a damn if it goes bankrupt.
These are happy days, l-ahwa.
Imkejjen infurmati have it that Air China have chosen Castile as their European HQ. George Vella has been entrusted to inform the prime minister that he is to move to the magisterial palace the moment the deal is struck.
The country is saved, the nation will thrive. May China rule forever, everybody – or as we should be saying, Zhōngguó kěnéng yǒngyuǎn tǒngzhì.
[Daphne – So would you have preferred the Russians, Kevin.]
Nothing beats Chinese rule, Daphne. It’s like Chinese food – you haven’t a clue what you’ve ordered, but it keeps coming as if you just can’t get enough of it.
With Mr.Andrew Mizzi (ex GWU shop Steward) as the new ‘Head of Industrial Relations’ ( Head of HR equivalent) at Air Malta, all employees have nothing to worry about if Air China takes over Air Malta.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/44413/andrew_mizzi_appointed_head_of_industrial_relations_at_air_malta#.VFVdsodLHzI
Make way, China is coming. The dots are joining. There will be no power station and so Konrad Mizzi went to Beijing (not Shangai) and found a political solution. Give them Air Malta.
Konrad Mizzi, tell your boss to publish the 2010 agreement that he made with the Chinese government, It is imperative for him to do so, now more than ever.
“We are at €16 million [loss]. Basically, there are 17 months left and I think the objective is to get Air Malta into good shape. Don’t forget that it has assets. The assets are primarily its landing slots – that’s why somebody would invest in Air Malta – probably a non-European airline. Don’t forget that, in Europe, the slots are rather congested; it is very difficult to get a slot in, say, Heathrow and other large airports.
Having some form of alliance with an airline that would be interested in the type of market Air Malta flies to is, I think, a very good selling point. Don’t forget, we are strategically located. We are also able to connect from the east – and by ‘the east’ I mean not just the Middle East but also beyond.”
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-11-02/local-news/We-will-leave-no-stone-unturned-to-implement-restructuring-plan-Air-Malta-CEO-6736124813
See my reply to A+ above.
Malta tac-Cina ukoll! Dan il-gvern dahak u qed jimanipola kollox Kif irid hu, bla ebda mandat u bla skrupli.
Mark my words: soon we will have great deficiencies in our liberty and democracy.
That might explain where Grech has been hiding. He has defrauded Air Malta and on top of that, contributed more than anyone else to destroying it. It would be appropriate that he will be part of its swan song as well.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/44413/andrew_mizzi_appointed_head_of_industrial_relations_at_air_malta#.VFX1ifmsWSo
Selling Air Malta to Air China is crazy.
Maltese tourism is dependent on seat capacity. Air Malta provides the bulk of Malta’s seat capacity especially in the winter. Because of tourism’s dependence on Air Malta, there are strong economic reasons why our national airline should not be sold off.
Should sale of our national airline become inevitable (because of increased losses), Air China is the worst possible buyer for many reasons.
First, it is an airline owned by the Chinese government. It could be used by the China to exert pressure, and even force, a future Maltese government to take decisions which would not be in Malta’s best interest. Picture this scenario. China ‘requests’ the Maltese government to take a specific position in the EU Council of Ministers failing which Air Malta (under the control of China’s government) would reduce routes to Malta, thus reducing seat capacity. That would be a major setback for our sovereignty.
Second, culturally and politically there are major differences between Malta and China. China’s democratic and human rights record should dictate a more cautious approach by Malta towards China. If Air Malta is to be sold, it should be a European carrier, because it is with Europe that Malta has the greatest cultural and political affinity. Malta is first and foremost European and the sale of our airline should seek to reinforce and enhance our European identity rather than undermine it.
Third, rightly or wrongly over the years, Air Malta has been perceived to be part of our national identity. In spite of being a small nation state, we have our own airline able to compete with larger airlines. It would be less of a bitter pill to swallow if it were sold to (or better still, merged with) a European carrier.
Fourth, workers’ conditions would be at greater risk. Ownership by another state, rather than a commercial company, makes workers’ conditions subject to political considerations, and not just commercial. Workers’ conditions, coupled with the threat of job losses, could be further tools for China to exert pressure on the Maltese government.
Whichever way you look a it, selling Air Malta to Air China is madness.
On this same subject. Yes the OSP (Open Skies policy) is certainly a valuable incentive for Air China to lay their hands on Air Malta after is run into the ground by this group of mediocre amateurs. People need to really open their eyes and realise just what treacherous bog that they have dropped themselves in!
The Reds are coming.
https://www.airmalta.com/information/about/news-overview/news-detail/fileprovider.aspx?fileId=58671
The goverment has denied the sale of Air Malta to Air China, and therefore I imagine that there will be no such sale.
In any case I disagree with such a sale. However I do not oppose in principle a partial privatisation. On can follow the MIA model ie 40 per cent of MIA is held by the government, 40 per cent given to a foreign or local investor and 20 per cent sold to small shareholders. A similar model was used by the Labour government for the former Telemalta. In any case as the only national airline, Air Malta’s majority shareholding should be held by the Maltese state or Maltese investors.
I am not usually pessimistic. However, I cannot help thinking that this government has every intention to stay in power at all costs.
The police and the army are already under their thumb; the judiciary is gradually being brought into line; the G.W.U. has for long been no more than an extension of the Labour Party; all public offices have been filled by party members and sympathisers and moles have been planted everywhere.
Add to these the secretive nature of the deals with China and Henley, the amnesty to prisoners and to those guilty of tampering with smart meters, the protection given to John Dalli, and others suspected of corruption, the deafening silence of the scandals surfacing almost daily, the steam-rolling over or ignoring all opposition and criticism and the total disregard for any code of ethics.
These are all signs that Joseph Muscat’s mind is set on retaining power come what may.
Joseph Muscat himself spoke before the election that in a small island like ours we should be one people where there is no place for political divisions. The idea of cancelling the local elections was just testing the waters.
The real intention was to cancel the general elections and move Malta inexorably towards a one party state on the Chinese model.
The clouds are gathering and the future looks grim.
Anything else to be bought by the Chinese? Will we be seeing Chinese doctors at Mater Dei Hospital too? In any case it’s Konrad’s baby too. So who knows.
The Opposition has the moral and political duty to expose the failures, blunders and lies and mismanagement of this Government.
The Opposition is at risk as falling victim to Muscat’s deceitful and deviating tactics. it should come down hard on the PM on his on goings with China.
Today it’s Air Malta; tomorrow it might be the eradication of opposing parties. We have seen how Muscat hates it when he is opposed or criticised; he can actually can turn nasty at times.
And Malta is at risk at being turned into a one-political-movement state.
China’s air? Hope its breathable.
Even if selling your strategic assets to China were a brilliant economic strategy surely the PL knows the importance of diversification and if none of them have some basis of economics then surely they must have heard the saying that one should not put all his eggs in one basket?
If you take the Chinese investments piecemeal you will miss the grander picture which is now becoming clearer by the minute.
China is so willing to help out on these separate projects not because it is interested in each one but because when taken as a whole they will control Malta from various angles making us virtual slaves. Muscat is about to do what Mintoff wanted to do but never managed.
PRIMA FACIA,IT DOES NOT BOTHER ME.WHY?
1.)THESE ARE VERY NORMAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS AND DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CHINESE IN VERY”IN”OF LATE.I FOLLOW THE FINANCIAL MARKETS . AVIATION IS VERY MUCH IN THE NEWS….IN THE BAD WAY!THERE IS A LOT OF EXCESS CAPACITY.IN THE EURO AREA,ONE-THIRD OF THE SEAT CAPACITY HAS TO GO.
2.)IT COULD MEAN SAVING MY OR YOU JOB !