Transfer of AFM Personnel to Malta International Airport plc

Following the necessary consultations that took place and the arrangements made by the Government, 208 members of the AFM who serve in the Air Traffic Control Corps and Airport Company of the AFM have agreed to be engaged with Malta International Airport from 1st May 1998. One member has opted to take early retirement. The Air Traffic Control Corps and Airport Company will be disbanded as Corps in the AFM on the same day.

As announced by the Prime Minister on 3 December 1997, the transfer will bring Malta into line with arrangements at other major airports in Europe and end the previous, unsatisfactory, mixed lines of civil-military management control by bringing all the air traffic control and other key services under the direct control of Malta International Airport p.l.c.

In a move designed by the Government to ensure that the transfer from the Armed Forces to MIA is conducted smoothly and with every due consideration for the human aspects of a change on this scale, the pay, pensions, allowances and other conditions of service of the military personnel going to MIA are being carefully protected. There is every confidence that once the engagement with MIA of the former AFM personnel has been implemented, this will lead to an organisation under Malta International Airport which is more efficiently and effectively directed to the running of air traffic and other services and which will considerably benefit the status and operational reputation of Malta's international airport.