Reference is made to Pamela Hansen’s article “Be healthy, fly high and bubbly” published in MaltaToday (Midweek) on 2nd July 2008.
The Healthy Flying concept launched at Malta International Airport is an initiative taken by the Airport Value Marketing Association and Aviation Health, who have invested in this concept as it is deemed an added value for all passengers. The great majority of the items considered as “healthy” have in fact been on sale for many years, and only a small number of these products have been introduced with the launching of the concept.
As to the reference to alcohol, we would like to clarify that Aviation Health referred to red wine and not ‘any’ type of alcohol. It is a universally-accepted fact that red wine, drunk in controlled amounts, aids the circulation of blood. Aviation Health and the Airport Value Marketing Association have launched an awareness campaign for a healthier flying experience, indeed with the welcome side effect of increasing sales.
With regards to the “waiting time” spent at MIA, this has nothing to do with AVMA and it is in the interest of MIA and all service providers that this is minimised as much as possible. MIA strives to constantly improve the services at the airport, and coordinates with the ground and passenger handling agents as well as introduces new measures and practices to this effect. A case in point has been the expansion and relocation of the security area, now operating on four security lanes and with the possibility of expanding further to six security points. This expansion was made necessary due to the increase in the number of passengers travelling from Malta International Airport.
Rosette Fenech
Head of Communications,
Malta International Airport
Zminijietna - Voice of the Left is of the opinion that the government could have taken a more pro-active position once it became clear that under EU regulations, subsidies to Malta Shipyards would have to stop by 2008.
Government should form a national task force on Malta’s Shipyards, involving political parties, the General Workers Union, and other stakeholders from commercial, academic and other sectors, both Maltese and European. Such a task force should aim to find a solution through which Malta Shipyards could be made viable through factors such as higher productivity and diversification of production. Such a task force should also investigate the possible options through which Malta Shipyards could operate whilst ensuring the best possible future for its workers.
We believe that, as is the case with projects such as Smart City, Government should take a direct role in operations of the Shipyards.
Government should retain the priceless assets of the Shipyards area to continue having a stake in operations. Government should safeguard workers’ employment whilst ensuring that the Shipyards area does not become a prime site of property speculation.
Victor Degiovanni
Zmijietna – Voice of the Left
