A statement released recently by Malawi Airlines has outlined why flights were disrupted on the first of December, last Sunday.

Following the continued partial closure of Chileka Airport due to the main runway;s maintenance, Malawi Airlines has been facing increased demand for additional resources to maintain smooth operations.

The statement reads “However, the Airline has of late faced challenges of near crew resource depletion resulting in flight disruptions. On Sunday, 1st December, 2019 five of our flight attendants reported sick whilst on duty a development that resulted in unprecedented delays affecting three of the day’s late afternoon flights to Nairobi, Blantyre and Dar es Salaam.”

In the statement signed by Joseph Josiah, the senior public relations officer for Malawi Airlines, has said that in resolve, six new Malawian national flight attendants have been recruited recruited to fill the existing gap caused by the additional operations. The statement reads “Three new flight attendants have already completed their training and are expected to commence operations in a few weeks while three more are about to finish. Two more cohorts are expected to be sent for training in due course.”

Meanwhile, as a temporary remedy, Malawi Airlines applied to Malawi Department of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to allow use of cabin crew from external source on relief basis. “These flight attendants will follow due process and start their work once all formalities are concluded” says the statement.