After much bruhaha, AirAsia has finally apologised for the inconvenience the delays and rescheduling of its flights had caused its customers.
Chief Executive Officer Riad Asmat said several factors and unavoidable incidents have resulted in delays that were beyond the airline’s expectations and control.
“We have tried our best to ensure minimum impact to all guests and ensure that everyone can arrive at their respective destinations soonest possible and this included the launch of special flights to carry stranded passengers,” he said in a statement. He also explained that among the factors which contributed to the rescheduling of flights during the festive season included demand for domestic flights had risen very sharply and the reopening of the country’s borders since April 1.
The CEO added that the airline is only operating with 40 aircraft compared to almost 100 pre-pandemic due to the long waiting queues for aircraft maintenance facilities in Malaysia and the region before an aircraft that had not been in operation. These maintenances are compulsory before the planes can be declared safe to fly again, as directed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia. Riad said there were also unforeseen incidents such as bird strikes, damage due to foreign objects, and lightning strikes that resulted in between three to five aircraft having to be removed from the schedule during the period.
He also said that AirAsia’s priority now is to minimise the incidents of flight cancellations and ensure that all its passengers arrive at their destinations safely.
Accordingly, AirAsia says any changes to the flight schedule will be notified to its passengers via email and SMS to the number registered during ticket bookings.
The statement comes following complaints made by travelers who endured long waiting periods without any notification or explanation. Domestic Trade and Consumer Minister, Nanta Linggi responded to the matter calling for better management by the airlines and also to offer compensation for the delays.
