20100409
AFRICA NEWS

All United Nations (UN) staff have been banned from flying Africa's friendly airline, Air Malawi. The ban follows the career’s report on operational problems, according to a Safety Advisory document from the UN to staff who attended the recent joint AU and UN for Africa (ECA) finance ministers' conference.
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The report cited recent Air Malawi problems, the resignation of pilots and engineers. The incidents have raised questions about the airline’s safety and sustainability.

“UN staff are therefore not authorized to travel on Air Malawi,” read the document.

Malawi Head of Security Affairs, Sally Tembo, told the local press the document is an internal matter. It was not for public consumption.

“Perhaps I need to speak to our legal people first. As of now I cannot comment,” Tembo told the Daily Times.

The airline boss, chief executive Wisdom Mchungula wondered why the UN had taken that decision.

“The UN would be in a better position to explain. Do you hear of any flight cancellations from us? Our safety management remains intact,” he said.

Air Malawi is facing a series of financial, human and material resources. It is currently utilizing a plane that was hired from South Africa. Has a huge debt case in the commercial courts against a foreign company that fixed one of its planes and there is a non relenting pilot resignations.

Operating under a Class C Category, the UN staff is only supposed to fly on Category A but may use Category B where Category A is not available.