KUCHING: The Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Transport, hopes that in the future, issues concerning aircraft delays will be communicated to passengers in an effective and straightforward manner so that they are fully informed of the situation.
According to Deputy Minister of Transport (Aviation and Roads) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, his ministry was aware of Batik Air’s justification for delaying the Kuala Lumpur-Kuching flight on Dec 23, 2022.
“We would like to thank Transport Minister Anthony Loke for his statement on this matter.
“We applaud Batik Air or Malindo Air’s initiative in ensuring passenger safety by diverting the flight to Langkawi owing to adverse weather and technical problems,” he said in a statement.
Based on the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code (MACPC), which was introduced in 2016 and further strengthened in 2019, airlines are required to notify passengers of any changes in flight status as soon as possible.
“For delays of two hours or more, the airline must provide care, such as meals, phone calls, and internet access.
Furthermore, for delays of five hours or more, the airline must provide accommodation and transportation, if necessary.
“As a result, any affected passenger who does not receive a response or is dissatisfied with the airline’s resolve is encouraged to file a complaint with the Malaysian Aviation Commission” (MAVCOM),
“MAVCOM is an independent agency that regulates civil-related economic and commercial problems. Flights in Malaysia can be booked using the FlySmart website at www.flysmart.my,” he added.
