MavCom has last laugh, wakakaka

MAVCOM to act against AirAsia X if passengers not compensated

By MAVCOM



IN line with the Malaysian Aviation Commission’s (MAVCOM) mandate to regulate economic and commercial matters relating to civil aviation in Malaysia and its commitment to protecting air travel consumer rights, MAVCOM had on Nov 11 issued a letter to AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) in response to its ongoing debt restructuring exercise.

This letter follows from MAVCOM’s various earlier correspondence with AAX.

In its letter, MAVCOM has clearly and unequivocally urged AAX to reassess its proposal to treat air travel consumers as creditors and to pay only 0.5% of the value of tickets purchased as announced on Oct 18.

MAVCOM takes the view that air travel consumers ought not to be classified as “creditors” as the air travel consumers did not, inter alia, sell any products, provide services or make loans to AAX but instead have paid monies for the purchase of tickets in advance of their flights.

Accordingly, MAVCOM reiterates its position that AAX should reimburse air travel consumers for the tickets purchased.

If AAX fails to reimburse the affected air travel consumers accordingly, MAVCOM will not hesitate to exercise its powers under the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act 2015 (Act 771).

AAX has repeatedly in its correspondence with MAVCOM and in their statements made to the public, given the assurance that AAX is committed to reimburse air travel consumers who were not able to fly due to flight cancellations.

MAVCOM is committed to discharging its duties under Act 771 and the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code in ensuring that air travel consumer rights are safeguarded. – Nov 11, 2021

The Malaysian Aviation Commission’s (MAVCOM) is an independent entity to regulate economic and commercial matters related to civil aviation in Malaysia.

kt notes:

Wakakaka, do you know why I wakakaka-ed?

Let me put the story in my own words (which means some rather flamboyantly naughty-cheeky words would be used in the following narration, wakakaka).

Some 2 to 3 years back, an AirAsia pilot (or two) used to write letters to the media ranting against MavCom and its clueless way of ballsing up AirAsia's business in Malaysia, controlling AirAsia's desire to expand here, contract there, etc.

No way, MavCom would say, probably asserting there were already far too many airlines operating on route 'X', etc etc, which AirAsia might have eyed.

Yes sir, MavCom regulates airlines economic and commercial matters in Malaysia such as route to be flown, number of passengers allowed, so on so forth, whilst CAAM (used to be Department of Civil Aviation of DCA) regulates the licensing and air safety operations of airlines (including that of pilots and engineering, loading-cargo-ing navigational competency etc).

So AirAsia was bollocking MavCom left, right and centre as a bureaucratic useless hindrance to sound airline business and by logic, ought to get out of good business companies' way, wakakaka.

Sweet Justice for MavCom - it'll now eff up AirAsia wish to offer credit to passengers instead of coughing up money already paid to AirAsia for service not met (not given flights booked) - no doubt the pandemic screwed AirAsia up but as MavCom said:

MAVCOM takes the view that air travel consumers ought not to be classified as “creditors” as the air travel consumers did not, inter alia, sell any products, provide services or make loans to AAX but instead have paid monies for the purchase of tickets in advance of their flights.

Continuing:

MavCom ensures that air travel consumer rights are safeguarded, and AAX shall be committed to reimburse air travel consumers who were not able to fly due to flight cancellations.

Wakakaka, he who laughs last ... etc etc.