4 - 10 October 2001

Swissair owes MIA around Lm20,000

by Ivan Brincat

The security costs relating to passengers at the Malta International Airport have doubled following the 11 September terror attacks on the United States.
MIA chairman Lawrence Zammit told The Malta Business Weekly yesterday that the airport was currently operating on double shifts which, in turn, have doubled the costs for the airport.
“We cannot pass on the security costs to the airlines that operate from the airport because in Malta no security fee is charged,” Mr Zammit said.
The 11 September attacks do not seem to have had a dramatic effect on Malta at least till now. In fact, Mr Zammit said, Malta International Airport has not noticed a dramatic decrease in the number of passengers handled at the airport.
MIA has also been affected by Swissair’s troubles. The Swiss company owes the airport around Lm20,000. Meanwhile, Swissair passengers in Malta were grounded after a decision was taken by the company to halt all flight operations.
Others were reported to have been grounded in Zurich. These passengers were either heading for other destinations or else staying in Switzerland for a few days.
Mr Zammit said that MIA is following closely what is happening to those passengers who are stranded because the Swiss airline is not obliged to give tickets to stranded passengers. A recorded message left on an answering machine at Swissair’s office at the airport said: “Due to the financial situation Swissair is not in a position to maintain its flight operations. Therefore we are not in a position to compensate for any consequences resulting from this situation.”
Malcolm Lowell, consul for Switzerland in Malta said in a statement yesterday that the consulate is always available to assist Swiss citizens who have a problem. “There are procedures which are followed in all cases where financial assistance is required, which would apply if necessary to the current problem that Swissair is facing.
“The Swiss government is doing all possible to find a solution to the situation, in the best interest of Swissair and its clients.”
MIA had also been in negotiations with a number of airlines before the 11 September attacks to start operating from Malta.
“Although the replies have not been negative as yet, airlines are trying to gain time to see what will happen,” Mr Zammit said.
He added that obviously the airlines were facing tough times but those that survived would get a bigger share of the market.
Sources close to the MIA told The Malta Business Weekly that added security measures at the airport has been welcomed by tourists but there have been complaints from Maltese passengers travelling abroad.
At present, all passengers who board flights have their hand luggage checked. These added security procedures were introduced after the 11 September attacks.
However, sources said that compared to some other airports the check-in time is still less than that for other airlines that ask passengers to be there at the airport at least three hours before the flight. Passengers
at MIA are asked to check-in
two hours before.