Where is MAVCOM?

Despite the great hue and cry surrounding AirAsia’s refunding policy, especially for abrupt flight delays or even uncompensated cancellations, it seems that investors are least perturbed. 

Easing jet fuel prices coupled with higher fares and more aircraft having returned to service will culminate in Capital A Bhd – operator of the AirAsia fleet and sister airline to long-haul AirAsia X Bhd – to break even some time in 3Q 2023.

FocusM highlighted how a Malaysian couple was forced to tap their Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) savings to cover their living expenses after being left stranded for five days in Melbourne following an AirAsia X’s flight cancellation on Jan 2 prior to their flight home was resumed on Jan 6. Their ordeal did not end there as they only had one meal daily on Jan 1 and 2.

Source: https://www.airasia.com

Mavcom data published in September showed that the most complaints from passengers from January to June 2022 were against AirAsia. A total of 527 complaints (42.1%) were made against the budget airline, followed by 40.7% against Malaysia Airlines. Batik Air received 99 complaints or 7.9%.

Some AirAsia passengers, including from overseas, asked why the Transport Minister had not taken the opportunity to address the issue of flight delays, cancellations and problems with refunds reported since 2020. Some were surprised to see Loke being firm with Batik Air when he had not taken the same approach to AirAsia. 

From a personal perspective, AirAsia in the early days used to compensate for flight delays. I did receive some compensation after an impassioned letter explaining a 12-hour delay I and family had on my return flight from Langkawi. Those days AirAsia did not have enough aircraft. Now it may not have the crew to fly the aircrafts after Covid. Nevertheless, MAVCOM has a duty to resolve disputes and seek settlement form the airline concerned. Ryanair is not a model for any Asian airline to follow!

References:

Passengers crying foul on AirAsia’s refunding, flight cancellation has no bearing on share price prospect, Focus Malaysia, 9 Jan 2023

What about AirAsia, Loke asked after Batik Air rebuke, Azzman Abdul Jamal, MalaysiaNow, 29 Dec 2022