Reference is made to Dr Anna Mallia’s article appearing in the MaltaToday of Wednesday, 3 September 2008.
It appears that Dr Mallia is not quite familiar with the procedures which are in place at all certified international airports, including Malta International Airport, as well as the requirements for persons to enter into certain areas in such airports.
In the first place, luggage tags are affixed to luggage at the airport of departure. Such tags are intended to ‘guide’ the luggage to the correct flight departing from such airport. At the airport of arrival, all luggage from one or more flights is placed on conveyor belts for collection by passengers. At this stage, all incoming passengers have physical access to such luggage and removal of a luggage tag takes no more than a “tug and rip”.
With regard to the possibility of any luggage containing a mob or explosives, the procedure if far more complex, where at the airport of departure, the luggage is screened for explosives or even separate elements which could, if brought together, constitute an explosive device. At Malta International Airport, for example, all luggage is individually scanned for this purpose. The issue of the illegal carriage of substance and explosives are of an entirely different nature.
As to the persons present within restricted areas, Dr Mallia should know that such areas are not freely accessible, hence the use of the adjective “restricted”.
Any person admitted to a restricted area, including all areas in the proximity of an aircraft, the departures hall and the baggage reclaim area, must either be a passenger, hence in possession of a valid travel ticket, or be in possession of a security pass issued by the Office of the Manager, Airport Security (OMAS), unless escorted at all times by a person in possession of such a security pass.
OMAS is an office under the aegis of the ministry of Internal Affairs having the responsibility to audit and control the safety and security aspects at the Malta International Airport in terms of the Airports and Civil Aviation (Security) Act, Cap. 405 of the Laws of Malta. For OMAS to issue a security pass to any person, whether employed by MIA or otherwise, it carries out through and together with the executive police, the necessary investigations in relation to such person. Any consideration which would render the presence of a person within a restricted area uncomfortable, would lead to the rejection of an application for the issue of a security pass.
By way of conclusion, apart from the fact that MIA should – to say the least – take offence to the manner in which it has been depicted in the above mentioned article, Dr Mallia is undoubtedly aware of the limitations which certain legislation imposes on employers, when it comes to collecting and processing data which is not directly related to their employment. MIA does, however, within the limits of such legislation, request police certificates of conduct from its employees and it also imposes an equivalent obligation on ground handling agents and other companies working within the airport.
Hence, apart from the fact that if an employee is within a restricted area, such employee is in possession of a security pass and is therefore considered safe by OMAS; MIA is also aware of such information, regarding its employees, as is required and directly related to their employment.
As always, Dr Mallia is welcome to be guided through the whole security procedure and the processes adopted at Malta International Airport, possibly leading to a more factual basis to her considerations and unwarranted allegations.
Rosette Fenech
Head of Communications,
Malta International Airport
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