CYPRUS Airways has been accused of ruining a teenager’s holiday after the airline allegedly insisted on serving peanuts on a flight.
Yesterday’s Mirror newspaper ran a story in which it was stated that 14-year-old Rebecca McNamara, who has a severe peanut allergy, was told seven months ago that her flight to Cyprus would be nut free.
But when mother Jeanette rang to confirm the special request last week, the airline said they would be serving peanuts.
Jeanette, of Essex, was quoted as saying: “I would never have booked with them had I known there might be a risk.
“Her allergy is so severe that people opening packets of peanuts around her can cause a reaction.”
In the end, the ticket was cancelled and another booking was made with another airline, at a cost of more than £1,100.
They have since been given a full refund by CY.
The paper says the airline “apologised” for what happened, while spokesman Kyriacos Kyriacou yesterday told the Mail that the company, “will now re-evaluate whether to serve nuts as part of our in-flight service and may serve other snacks such as plain biscuits or crisps instead.”
He added that “it’s currently difficult for the caterer to 100 per cent guarantee the absence of all traces of nuts.”
He also said that even if all nuts were banned from CY flights, “this may not stop people bringing nuts on board themselves.”
Nevertheless, Kyriacou reiterated that, “our first responsibility is to our passengers and we will do anything we can to cater to their needs.”
Two weeks ago, the national carrier defended its decision to throw two holiday-makers off a flight after finding out they were allergic to nuts.
The two Aberdeen teenagers were ordered off a CY plane bound for Cyprus at Heathrow after one of them asked staff not to distribute free peanuts to passengers as she suffers from a severe nut allergy.
On hearing this, cabin crew told the 17-year-old girls they would have to get off the flight. Their air fare was refunded by CY.
“They waited until the last minute to tell us,” Kyriacou said at the time. “Can I put someone on a plane who is allergic to something being distributed on the plane?
The spokesman said the airline had no problem accommodating for allergies as long as they were given the necessary warning.
A number of airlines have stopped serving nuts as part of their in-flight service.
Marianna Trokoudes, British Airways Country Commercial Manager, Cyprus said: “To help accommodate the needs of peanut allergy sufferers, British Airways operates a peanut policy on board its aircraft. Peanuts are not included within British Airways aircraft meals or snacks in any cabin; however we cannot guarantee against accidental cross-contamination that may occur within flight kitchens.”
She added that the only exception to this policy is on the airline’s long-haul flights to the Far East where Peanut Satay may be included on the menu.
“Other types of nut may be included on our long-haul aircraft menus, but peanuts as a cocktail accompaniment have been withdrawn from all cabins.
“Please be aware, however, that we are unable to guarantee a peanut-free aircraft as other passengers may bring their own peanut products onboard.”
