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Malta International Airport operations coping with special passenger influx due to Libya crisis

Direct News Source

28-Feb-2011 The evolving situation in Libya has led to extraordinary aircraft movements at Malta International Airport.

During a media event at the airport, a spokesperson for Malta International Airport plc explained that these movements meant the airport operator had to maximise parking stands on its various aprons, stretching operations to the limit and requiring strict coordination with Air Traffic Control (ATC) to ensure efficiency levels are maintained at all times.

The spokesperson added that since Monday 21st February, there have been a total of 212 aircraft movements directly related to the emergency due to the situation in Libya, with 70 of these movements operated by commercial airlines, 92 movements operated by a number of military aircraft belonging to various Air Forces, and 50 movements operated by small private aircraft.

The total number of passengers brought over from Tripoli by a number of these flights over the past seven days, was over 3,000.

These flights include also a number of unscheduled flights departing with evacuees who arrived in Malta either by air or by sea.

"Just today, we have four Chinese Eastern Airlines (2 A-330s and 2 A340s) as well as a Jet2.com (B757) for British nationals. In fact, the total number of evacuees leaving from Malta Airport as at today is more than 4,100 - 1,350 of whom left today."

The spokesperson referred to the coordination with the authorities through the Government Crisis Centre which was required to ensure that as soon as these passengers were brought over to MIA, check-in processes commence, security clearance gets underway and passengers are taken up to the Non-Schengen Departures Area. The Airport Operations Department and Security Department coordinated this aspect of the operation together with Police, Immigration & Civil Protection Department.

"Most of all, we are very proud of all our staff who have been working round the clock for a whole week, going that extra mile to ensure that these passengers - who have been through a lot, are given the most efficient service," added the MIA spokesperson.

He concluded that all these results were also possible through all other partners at the airport, including ATC, the Office of the Manager Airport Security (OMAS), ground-handlers (KM and GGM), Enemalta Corporation, AFM, police, immigration, transport services providers, amongst others.

"We are also very satisfied that notwithstanding all these extraordinary requirements, the commitment from all our staff has enabled us to maintain our normal scheduled operations - which have not been affected - thus ensuring that quality service levels to normal customers were maintained."