I refer to the letter Service For Disabled Passengers At Airport sent by Gill Plant (June 30) as well as the letter sent by Michael Plant (July 3).

Malta International Airport regrets the inconvenience that Mr and Mrs Plant encountered during their last two visits to MIA. We have contacted Mrs Plant, who kindly provided us with the respective flight details and enabled us to investigate both incidents. However, we reiterate that such cases are to be reported immediately in order to facilitate matters for us to conduct the necessary investigations.

With regard to the enhanced services that have come into force this week, we assure Mr and Mrs Plant that MIA is coordinating and monitoring the procedures. Furthermore, MIA has indeed provided necessary training to its own customer services personnel as well as to around 80 airport staff employed with both the handling companies, who will be specifically deployed to provide the necessary assistance. As to the financing of the service, the EU regulation states that "assistance should be financed in such a way as to spread the burden equitably among all passengers using an airport to avoid disincentives to the carriage of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility".

As to the fee of €0.46 being levied to cover this service, Mr Plant seems to have calculated the total amount due incorrectly. The fees in question are charged per departing passenger and therefore, based on the 2007 figures, the entire amount due would be approximately €687,000 and not €1.5 million as stated by Mr Plant. We may also confirm, as indeed it is possible to verify, that fees for this service are also being levied by other European airports.

We trust that Mr and Mrs Plant will have the opportunity to experience these enhanced services in a positive manner the next time they visit Malta International Airport.