The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) is considering a proposal to impose financial penalties or other appropriate strict action against companies that fail to comply with the set schedule.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the proposal could be implemented with changes or additions to the license conditions to ensure that this does not happen again, reported Berita Harian.
“For the purpose of compensation payments to passengers, the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016 (MACPC) already provides for the responsibility of airlines towards consumers.
“This code aims to protect the rights and interests of consumers by ensuring that all complaints against airlines are acted upon and resolved,” he said in a written answer to a question by Balik Pulau representative Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik in the Dewan Rakyat, today.
Muhammad Bakhtiar asked for an investigation report on the low-cost airline that was sloppy with the flight schedule as well as strict action to ensure that the incident does not happen again.
Ka Siong said companies that delay flights due to uncontrollable factors such as operational, commercial or technical problems are subject to offering compensation and care to passengers.
“If an airline fails to comply with the MACPC, MAVCOM can impose a financial penalty of an amount not exceeding RM200,000 and the second or subsequent non-compliance, the amount of 10 times the financial penalty imposed for the first non-compliance.
“From 2018 until 2020, MAVCOM has imposed a penalty of RM4.72 million on the failure of airlines that committed various offenses under the MACPC,” he said.
In the meantime, he said, MAVCOM has also made continuous monitoring related to the cancellation or rescheduling of flights that have often occurred since last April.
“Out of a total of 67,298 flights scheduled for the period from April to May last year, 29,956 or 44.51 percent of domestic and international flights have been canceled. The reason for the cancellation or rescheduling is due to aircraft constraints and also lack of staff,” he said.
