Air Malta aircraft in Swine Flu scare
An Air Malta aircraft operating the London Gatwick - Catania route was delayed by 2 hours 50 minutes at Catania Airport yesterday while it was disinfected after two Sicilian passengers were taken ill, the airline said today.
The two, who were returning from the UK, were examined by the Sicilian medical authorities, and following laboratory tests in Palermo, it was confirmed that they were suffering from the H1N1 Swine Flu virus.
Although the Air Malta crew did not have flu symptoms, the Sicilian Health authorities asked them to stay in Catania until the tests on the passengers were concluded. Air Malta and the Maltese health authorities are now making arrangements for the crew to be brought back to Malta.
"Air Malta's policy is to safeguard at all times the health and safety of its passengers and crews and this event reconfirms its commitment," the airline said.
6 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Christian V. Sciberras
Jul 15th 2009, 23:48
I think what another company would do, is past the point of the current post.
On a further note, any said company underpaying it's employees, I think it's up to the employees to argue about their pay.
Kind regards,
Christian V. Sciberras
Alan Pulis
Jul 6th 2009, 16:32
@S. Grech: first of all, just to make it clear, I'm not arguing about whether ryanair staff are underpaid or not. I don't know how much they earn, neither do I know how much Air Malta staff get paid. I am, however, arguing against the point you are trying to make. Yes, low-cost airlines are more affordable for those who otherwise would not be able to travel. But does this justify low wages paid to the airline crew (again, assuming that they are underpaid)? It's just like saying that cheap clothing is a good thing, even though the companies, directly or indirectly, are engaged in forced and/or child labour. The former doesn't justify the latter, does it?
T Borg
Jul 6th 2009, 15:58
Another Ryanair bashing comment. What is wrong with you people, there are strict rules and regulations in the Airline industry, some of the strictest in any place of work due to the nature of it. They are a low-cost airline prividing a service to millions of people a year not some 'Dell Boy" enterprise. Because they don't have the frills of full-service operations, doesn't mean they skimp on security. I'm more than positive that if this had happened on one of their aircraft, the same would have happend. And yes, I do have friends who work as cabin crew on Ryanair, easyJet and Wizzair - all low cost airlines with (as yet and hopefully ever more) no fatal accidents.
S.Grech
Jul 6th 2009, 12:43
Dear Dr Paul Sant Cassia talking about Ryanair overworked and underpaid you should take a look around you like in my expierence hotels . People who work like me in hotels ,factory etc we thank god that ryanair finally operates to Malta so we can travel for the same price of a local taxi ride . We also pay taxes cause we are not Dr.
A Abela
Jul 5th 2009, 10:09
Underpaid? Ryanair staff are paid more than Air Malta.
Dr Paul Sant Cassia
Jul 4th 2009, 23:01
That is very commendable of Air Malta. I doubt whether Ryan Air would have done the same. I pity their staff who are overworked and underpaid.