KUALA LUMPUR – 38% of flights operated by low-cost carrier AirAsia were delayed, according to data as of August 2024, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke (Seremban-PH).
In a written parliamentary reply yesterday, Loke said that in April, his ministry and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) set an 85% on-time performance (OTP) target for all Malaysian airlines, including AirAsia, which operates across all airports in Malaysia.
Loke said as of September, AirAsia recorded an OTP rate of 67.9% for domestic flights, a slight drop from 70.8% the previous month.
For international flights, AirAsia’s OTP was 61.7%, down from 69.5% in August. AirAsia X, however, saw a slight improvement, achieving an OTP rate of 81.8% in September, compared to 80.6% the month before.
Loke was responding to a question from PAS MP Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (Kuala Krai-PN), who had asked about any actions taken against AirAsia, given the frequent delays of its flights.
He explained that some delays were caused by operational factors such as aircraft and crew rotations, as well as extraordinary circumstances and technical issues.
“Performance monitoring for all airlines will be published on Mavcom’s website. If an airline fails to meet its OTP target, it may face restrictions on renewing or expanding its air traffic rights,” Loke said.
“MAVCOM also plans to introduce incentives and penalties based on OTP targets and flight cancellations.”
He added that the commission has reminded airlines to comply with regulations addressing flight delays, including issuing a media statement within 24 hours for major disruptions and providing detailed reports to Mavcom.
On August 28, Loke announced a new directive requiring airlines to offer passengers a full refund for flights delayed by five hours or more, effective from September.
This decision is part of efforts to strengthen the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016 (MACPC) and better protect air travellers.
Airlines are also required to offer a full refund for flight disruptions caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather. – November 12, 2024