Government Shrouds KM Malta Pilot and Cabin Crew Contracts in Secrecy

The Maltese government has rejected a Freedom of Information request for the release of contracts signed by KM Malta Airlines with its pilots and cabin crew, citing commercial and personal data protection concerns.

**Paragraph 1:** The Maltese government has drawn criticism for its refusal to disclose contracts between KM Malta Airlines and its pilots and cabin crew, a decision that has raised concerns about transparency and accountability.

**Paragraph 2:** The government's rejection stemmed from a Freedom of Information request submitted by The Sunday Times of Malta, which sought access to the documents. However, the request was denied by the Office of the Prime Minister.

**Paragraph 3:** In its response, the government cited two main reasons for withholding the contracts: protecting commercially sensitive information and safeguarding the personal data of the employees involved.

**Paragraph 4:** The government argued that disclosing the contracts could damage the airline's competitive advantage and undermine its ability to negotiate future agreements. Additionally, it maintained that releasing personal information, such as salaries and benefits, could infringe on the privacy rights of the employees.

**Paragraph 5:** Critics of the government's decision, including the Nationalist Party, have argued that the public has a legitimate interest in the use of public funds, especially when it comes to government-owned entities like KM Malta Airlines.

**Paragraph 6:** They contend that the government's excuse of commercial sensitivity is a pretext to avoid scrutiny, while the protection of personal data is an overblown concern, as the newspaper had already pledged to anonymize the information before publication.

**Paragraph 7:** The refusal to disclose the contracts casts a shadow over the government's commitment to transparency and raises questions about the rationale behind the secrecy.

**Paragraph 8:** KM Malta Airlines, which was established in 2019, is a subsidiary of the national airline, Air Malta. The airline operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and A320neo aircraft and serves a network of destinations across Europe and North Africa.

**Paragraph 9:** Despite being a government-owned entity, KM Malta Airlines is run as a commercial enterprise and is responsible for its own profitability. However, it has received financial assistance from the government, including a €13 million loan in 2020 to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

**Paragraph 10:** The government's refusal to disclose the contracts has sparked calls for greater oversight and accountability of public funds. Critics argue that the public has a right to know how their money is being spent, especially when it involves entities that are supposed to operate in a transparent and accountable manner.