Air Malta CEO Peter Davies has strongly denied that his wife was to blame for a 49-minute delay on a Gatwick to Malta flight last week.
It’s unbelievable. I try to save the company and all I get is a wrecking in the press
“This is unbelievable. I try to save the company and all I get is a wrecking in the press,” he told The Sunday Times of Malta, before directing this newspaper to the airline for comments on the incident.
The airline said the delay on May 24 was caused by a check-in error and departure airport restrictions. It also admitted that the aircraft was overbooked.
Passengers who were on the flight complained about what they believed was insistence by the airline’s chief executive with the area manager to let his wife board.
Replying later to questions about the incident, an Air Malta spokesman said Mr Davies “never called the airline’s airport manager”.
“His secretary called the airport manager to ask for an update so that she could organise alternative travel arrangements if Ms Davies was not accepted on the flight,” the spokesman said, adding the secretary “never insisted” with the airport manager to accept the CEO’s wife.
Asked whether Mr Davies was authorised to give instructions to the area manager on boarding matters, the spokesman insisted the CEO “does not and has never given such instructions”.
Once check-in is closed it is the airline’s policy not to accept passengers
The airline said Ms Davies was booked on the flight with a Club Class staff ticket.
Since the flight was overbooked and she had a staff ticket, Ms Davies had to wait until the booking process for full-paying passengers was complete before being accepted.
However, the spokesman said that at one stage, during check-in and before the process was completed, Ms Davies was “erroneously checked in” by the airline’s handling agents at Gatwick airport.
“Realising this mistake, the agents offloaded her and she was put again on standby,” the spokesman added.
He also explained that to accommodate all booked clients the airline upgraded three passengers to Club Class and they were offered seats 4A, 4C and 4F.
This was normal procedure and in-line with Air Malta’s policy when flights are overbooked, he added.
“Ms Davies was also accommodated on this flight and offered the middle seat, 4B.
Despite it being overbooked, all checked-in passengers were accommodated and were able to travel on this flight,” the spokesman said.
The upgraded passengers and Mrs Davies were offered economy meal trays.
The spokesman insisted no passengers had arrived late for the flight and Ms Davies was accepted on closing time after all full paying passengers were boarded.
“Once check-in is closed it is Air Malta’s policy not to accept passengers.”
Asked whether the company will investigate the incident, he said all allegations of wrongdoing were investigated “irrespective of any position one holds”.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com