The short-time work allowance was canceled for the pilots of the airline Malta Air stationed in Germany. The Federal Employment Agency originally issued a positive decision, but subsequently revised the decision. The Cockpit Association and the managing director of the Ryanair subsidiary have now issued a joint media release.

“It is a sad day for the German pilots who will certainly feel that their government has turned its back on them, given the news that they have decided to grant short-time work benefits to local German pilots, German taxes and German social security Pay, Undo At a time when other airlines are receiving billions in government aid, the German government shouldn't abandon pilots at Malta Air by denying them social security benefits. The Covid-19 crisis has hit the aviation industry extremely hard and although we have worked hard to keep job losses among German pilots as low as possible, the pilots need the support of their government in the form of these services. Malta Air is one of the largest employers in the aviation industry in Germany with over 1.000 pilots and crew members at our German bases. It is important that the German government is committed to protecting this vital workforce and taking into account the extraordinary challenges the aviation industry is currently facing. Together with the Cockpit Association, we call on both the Cologne Employment Agency and the Federal Government to end this discriminatory failure to provide support, ”said David Diarmuid O'Conghaile, CEO of Malta Air.

The Cockpit Association and the management of the carrier are now calling on the Federal Employment Agency and the German Federal Government to evaluate and revise the non-granting of short-time working. Specifically, it is required that the original, positive decision should become valid again. Furthermore, proceedings are already pending before the court.

“The pilots in Germany are local employees. You pay taxes and duties to the German social security system. Of course, they expect support in the form of short-time work benefits. The political goal of securing jobs in the country with the instrument of short-time working allowance is common sense in the federal government. However, we have the impression that double standards are being used here, ”says Marcel Gröls, chairman of the collective bargaining policy of the Cockpit Association.