Ryanair's British pilots have signalled strong support for industrial action over pay and conditions in an indicative ballot carried out by the BALPA trade union, according to a memo seen by Reuters. The memo, sent to union members on Monday, said 90 percent of pilots balloted supported the non-binding call for industrial action, though it did not say how many pilots took part. BALPA is due to hold talks with Ryanair on Tuesday, the memo said. BALPA and Ryanair did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ryanair suffered a series of damaging strikes last year after the airline bowed to pressure in late 2017 to recognise unions for the first time. That contributed to the weakest annual profit in four years in figures reported last month. <br/>
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Ryanair agreed Tuesday to establish a Malta-based carrier to grow its presence on the island and access to North Africa, adding another subsidiary to its group of airlines. Ryanair has been moving to a structure similar to that of BA-owner IAG by operating an increasing number of subsidiaries, including Austrian and Polish airlines Laudamotion and Ryanair Buzz, as well as its main Dublin-based Ryanair. After the Maltese government said it was in advanced talks with Ryanair about setting up the subsidiary, the Irish airline announced it would do so through the purchase of Maltese start up Malta Air, into which it will move its six aircraft currently based in the country. “Malta Air will proudly fly the Maltese name and flag as we look to grow our Maltese based fleet, routes, traffic and jobs over the next three years,” Ryanair CE Michael O’Leary said. The airline said it planned to increase its fleet on the island to 10 aircraft within three years and rebrand them as Malta Air for Summer 2020. Over 50 planes based in France, Italy and Germany will also be moved onto the Maltese register, allowing crews to pay income taxes locally instead of in Ireland where they are obliged to do so under current arrangements, Ryanair added.<br/>
Two of Jet Airways' creditors have started court proceedings that could bankrupt the carrier potentially jeopardising the planned sale of the grounded carrier. The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal has fixed a 13 June date to hear pleadings from truck dealer Shaman Wheels and water bottler Gaggar Enterprises to declare the airline insolvent. FlightGlobal reached out to Jet Airways for comment but had not received a response at the time of publishing. If the motion moves ahead, it will likely scupper plans by the carrier's banking consortium to sell a controlling stake to a strategic investor. State Bank of India is the bank leading the consortium, and its SBI Capital Markets unit is handling the sale. Etihad Airways and Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group have both indicated that they could invest in the carrier, but there has been little sign of any progress towards a sale. <br/>