Steward’s €160,000 Bill for Unauthorised Airport Services

Imagine this: you’re a steward at Malta International Airport, tasked with ensuring smooth operations. One day, you decide to take matters into your own hands, hiring security personnel and clerical staff without a nod from your superiors. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Well, that’s exactly what landed a steward in hot water, leaving him with a hefty €160,000 bill.

In a recent ruling that’s through Malta’s aviation industry, the courts ordered the steward to cough up €160,000 for services he hired without authorisation. The services in question? Security personnel and clerical staff, engaged to assist with airport operations. But here’s the kicker: the steward didn’t have the green light from his employers, Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS), to make these hires.

According to court documents, the steward, identified only as ‘C’, hired these individuals between 2016 and 2018. MATS, however, maintained that these services were not necessary and that ‘C’ had acted beyond his remit. The court agreed, ruling that ‘C’ had acted ultra vires, or beyond his legal authority.

This case serves as a stark reminder of to one’s remit and seeking authorisation when engaging third-party services. It’s a lesson that ‘C’ has learned the hard way, left with a bill that’s sure to make his eyes water.

But what about MATS? The organisation has been quick to reassure the public that it’s committed to maintaining high operational standards. A spokesperson told Hot Malta, “We’re dedicated to ensuring the safety and efficiency of our operations. Incidents like these are rare, but when they occur, we take them seriously and address them accordingly.”

As for ‘C’, he’s been given a month to pay up. Failure to do so could result in his assets being seized. It’s a tough lesson, but one that he – and the rest of Malta’s aviation industry – won’t soon forget.