Give meals to crew, airlines ordered

MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) ordered air companies to supply meals to crew members on duty.

CAAP deputy director John Andrews on Thursday expressed alarm over airlines' lack of concern for cockpit and cabin crew who purchase meals from their own pockets during flight duties.

"In the interest of safety, all carriers are hereby directed to provide adequate and separate kind of meals to their cockpit crew during their flight duties," he said.

Andrews said that CAAP recently learned that airlines allow their staff to take meals from sources who may not be observing sanitation guidelines, exposing flight crews to food contamination.

The agency is also concerned that such food may adversely affect their performance on the job, which requires them to be alert and focused.