Tourism minister dubs airport blackout ‘unacceptable’

airx Malta International Air show launch • Video by Ray Attard

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis says that MIA's closure last week due to the widespread blackout was 'unacceptable'.

Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that reports were being drawn up by the Malta International Airport and the Malta Air Traffic Services to assess exactly what happened during last week’s power cut.

Damage to generators at the airport rendered the runway not operable during the widespread outage, with some flights either being delayed or diverted. Questions are now being asked as to who should bear responsibility for the incident.

“We need to ensure that those who are responsible are held as such,” Zammit Lewis said. “It is unacceptable that something like this happens to such an essential service as that carried out by MIA. We are currently gathering all the necessary reports and will analyse what happened. Above all, we need to make sure that such an occurrence is avoided in the future.”

The minister was speaking to Maltatoday after the launch of this year’s airx Malta International Air show which will be held on the 27th and 28th of September. It will be the 22nd air show in 43 years of existence of the Malta Aviation Society as organizers.

Joe Ciliberti, president of the Malta Aviation Society, said that they were expecting this year’s event to be the “biggest ever” in terms of attendance. He said that for the first time, Egypt and Turkey will be taking part, although the former will be taking part with a static display while Turkey will be sending its aerobatic team The Turkish Stars whom will join the RAF Red Arrows, the Italian Frecce Tricolori and the Spanish Patrulla Aguila. Belgium, Switzerland and the Czech Republic will also be participating in the flying display.

Ciliberti also expressed his gratitude to the Malta International Airport for their support for “such a world class event”, even though the event was clearly not part of the airport's normal operations.

Meanwhile, airx CEO John B. Matthews said that the company, the main sponsors of the air show after arriving in Malta in early 2013, has increased its fleet with the addition of two Boeing 737 aircrafts. These will be used for executive business charter of large groups such as music tours, football clubs and government delegations. Both aircrafts will be registered under the Maltese flag and the first clients will be English Premier League side, Southampton F.C, for away games.

The entrance fee to the air show will be 13 euros on the Saturday and 15 euros on Sunday. As Ciliberti explained, this was to attract more people to attend on the Saturday. Public transport will also be available from Valletta straight to the airfield in an attempt to avoid traffic and parking congestion.