Mavcom has failed the aviation sector

[flee 5]

CAAM will act in the best interest of aviation industry — Anthony Loke

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 13): Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) will be further empowered financially and through a wider scope of powers to act in the best interest of the aviation industry after it subsumes the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).

“They will be given more power, we want to empower CAAM,” he told reporters today at the launch of the #JOMTEKSI initiative by TNG Digital Sdn Bhd, the operator of Touch’n Go eWallet.

The recent Cabinet decision to consolidate the functions under Mavcom — which regulates commercial and economic matters in the Malaysian aviation sector — and CAAM — which oversees technical issues in the sector — has sparked debate over the necessity of having an independent economic regulatory body to avoid a reversion back to the service quality back when the industry was served by Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), the predecessor of CAAM.

More:

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/caam-will-act-best-interest-aviation-industry-—-anthony-loke

[KK Lee 5]

14 hours ago, flee said:

CAAM will act in the best interest of aviation industry — Anthony Loke

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 13): Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) will be further empowered financially and through a wider scope of powers to act in the best interest of the aviation industry after it subsumes the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).

“They will be given more power, we want to empower CAAM,” he told reporters today at the launch of the #JOMTEKSI initiative by TNG Digital Sdn Bhd, the operator of Touch’n Go eWallet.

The recent Cabinet decision to consolidate the functions under Mavcom — which regulates commercial and economic matters in the Malaysian aviation sector — and CAAM — which oversees technical issues in the sector — has sparked debate over the necessity of having an independent economic regulatory body to avoid a reversion back to the service quality back when the industry was served by Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), the predecessor of CAAM.

More:

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/caam-will-act-best-interest-aviation-industry-—-anthony-loke

To be competitive internationally, the country need to cut red tapes (hopefully not length wise).

 

Edited December 15, 2019 by KK Lee

[flee 5]

A good example is the UK's Civil Aviation Authority - they are in charge of all matters civil aviation. They even had to set up an emergency airline to rescue the Thomas Cook pax after that company collapsed. It shows that you can have efficiency and effectiveness if the organisation is well run. And you don't need multiple organisations with highly paid chairmans and ceos who do nothing effective and just give excuses why things are not done!

[Waiping 12]

Well thanks MAVCOM for the 2 decisions in my favor for the airport tax claim recently.  I sincerely hope that MoT's decision is right and really put the consumer interest in front.

It is like I can't just go to IJN now, but have to take a number at HKL and wait for my turn to have my case "transfer" to IJN.

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

On 12/13/2019 at 8:23 PM, flee said:

E-hailing and aviation are different industries - aviation has all the rules and regulations already in place. MoT were merely catching up with e-hailing because there were no proper rules and regulations for that industry.

It's not the rules that's the problem. It's the implementation.

I honestly doubt that they would be able to do the same as the UK CAA.

Edited December 16, 2019 by Mohd Suhaimi Fariz

[flee 5]

23 hours ago, Mohd Suhaimi Fariz said:

I honestly doubt that they would be able to do the same as the UK CAA.

Yes, that is a problem the Malaysian civil service has to overcome - public perception of their capabilities is very low.

However, with everything under one roof, one can hope to see some improvement.

[flee 5]

Mavcom fails Malaysian consumers — Fomca

APRIL 17 — Airlines operating in Malaysia have indicated that approximately 13.6 million seats have been cancelled, which literally means that hundreds of millions of hard-earned consumers ringgit have been stuck with the airlines.

By right, these fares need to be refunded immediately after the flights were cancelled. That is the right of consumers.

More: https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2020/04/17/mavcom-fails-malaysian-consumers-fomca/1857652

[flee 5]

Bill on merging Mavcom with CAAM to be tabled next year

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook says this will be a long process, not only in terms of amending the law but also combining the operations.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/10/23/bill-on-merging-mavcom-with-caam-to-be-tabled-next-year/

[KK Lee 5]

Mavcom was created for ex-politicians and cronies to draw fat salaries.

 

[KK Lee 5]

The Dewan Rakyat today passed the bill to dissolve the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).

The Mavcom (Dissolution) Bill 2024, tabled by Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah on Monday (June 24), was passed via a majority voice vote after a heated debate during the sitting.

https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/709929

Long overdue.

 

[flee 5]

On 9/9/2019 at 4:40 PM, flee said:

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 AirAsia Bhd group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has claimed that the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) has failed the countrys aviation sector, backing it with seven reasons, among others introducing bureaucratic policies.

Some of the requirements imposed by Mavcom include airlines notifying other local airlines on new route applications which is a time-consuming and unnecessary process; a three times a week limit on submissions of route applications; and the introduction of a six-month 'cooling-off' period for re-submission of rejected applications, he said.

In the latest round of attack on the commission, Fernandes claimed that Mavcom, on many occasions, rejected several route applications even though bilateral traffic rights are available with other countries.

In other words, Mavcom is rejecting applications on bilaterally-unrestricted routes. This is a blatantly unfair practice, he posted on LinkedIn, a social media platform geared towards professionals.

In the past, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) granted approvals as long as Air Service Agreements are in place. And it is definitely not Mavcoms function to determine whether airlines will ultimately utilise the approved traffic rights, he said in the post entitled: Mavcom A dysfunctional entity.

More:

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/09/09/mavcom-has-failed-the-aviation-sector-says-airasia-boss/1788821

This thread started almost 5 years ago. I wonder how many millions have gone down the drain operating something that is the CAAM's responsibility?

[JuliusWong 0]

I am kind of 50/50 on this. MavCom still approve hundreds of air traffic rights application for Capital A even though there are many pax being short changed by them. Same goes to MAG and Batik Air. My friend who booked a flight with Batik Air but did not received his itinerary was asked to go to their HQ in Ara Damansara to get it rectified. Luckily he stays in KL, if not?? Those poor pak cik and mak cik in kampung......

All three airlines in Malaysia are...haiz......

[Craig 0]

Anthony Loke announced today that carriers must provide refunds (to the original form of payment or if the passenger agrees, a credit shell or travel vouchers) if the delay is greater than 5 hours. There isn't much info available at this time but are carriers required to provide a refund due a "schedule change" instead of a delay or did he mean as long as it's >5 hours from the schedule when you first bought the tickets.

Among other things included in this consumer protection amendments to the Mavcom Act includes:

- Mandatory refunds for fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees (including but not limited to departure levy, PSC, carbon fees etc.) even if the ticket is 100% non refundable for flights not taken by the passenger (huge win!). I guess those airlines that have high YQ but low fare base e.g. TK may have to revise their fares to/from/via Malaysia.
- Any changes to scheduled departure time must be communicated to passengers at least 2 weeks prior to departure with extraordinary (e.g. weather) or  unavoidable technical issues
- All canceled flights must be removed from all booking systems 
- Any denied boarding must be communicated to passengers at check-in or at the gate
- Time limit for passengers to submit a compliant has been extended from 1 to 2 years
 

[KK Lee 5]

2 hours ago, Craig said:

Anthony Loke announced today that carriers must provide refunds (to the original form of payment or if the passenger agrees, a credit shell or travel vouchers) if the delay is greater than 5 hours. There isn't much info available at this time but are carriers required to provide a refund due a "schedule change" instead of a delay or did he mean as long as it's >5 hours from the schedule when you first bought the tickets.

Among other things included in this consumer protection amendments to the Mavcom Act includes:

- Mandatory refunds for fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees (including but not limited to departure levy, PSC, carbon fees etc.) even if the ticket is 100% non refundable for flights not taken by the passenger (huge win!). I guess those airlines that have high YQ but low fare base e.g. TK may have to revise their fares to/from/via Malaysia.
- Any changes to scheduled departure time must be communicated to passengers at least 2 weeks prior to departure with extraordinary (e.g. weather) or  unavoidable technical issues
- All canceled flights must be removed from all booking systems 
- Any denied boarding must be communicated to passengers at check-in or at the gate
- Time limit for passengers to submit a compliant has been extended from 1 to 2 years
 

If is inline with EU should be sufficient.

[Robert 0]

25 minutes ago, KK Lee said:

If is inline with EU should be sufficient.

its still weak and doesn't address many many issues. No EU261 compensation, nothing to tighten and enforce an airlines responsibility to passengers during IRROPS>

MH are refusing to reroute many affected people or use certain airlines. There latest is that they will not place you on another carrier until 14 or less days before your flight. By this time the fights will be sold out.  

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

I normally book my flights many months in advance for my holidays. Often I receive flight change notification from the airlines from the time I book to departure date. Sometimes the change could be as minor as 10 minutes, or alternate days but all of them would ask if I accept the change or a full refund. The happened to one of my flights with MH a couple of months ago.

i thought this is already a common practice in aviation industry but it seems not, at least for MH from what I read above ?

[flee 5]

3 hours ago, Kee Hooi Yen said:

I normally book my flights many months in advance for my holidays. Often I receive flight change notification from the airlines from the time I book to departure date. Sometimes the change could be as minor as 10 minutes, or alternate days but all of them would ask if I accept the change or a full refund. The happened to one of my flights with MH a couple of months ago.

i thought this is already a common practice in aviation industry but it seems not, at least for MH from what I read above ?

I would like to add that if the change affects bookings on connecting flights (even on third party airlines), the airline will also rebook you on a different flight to preserve the connection - FOC.

MH must revise its service recovery SOPs as a matter of urgency.

[JuliusWong 0]

14 minutes ago, flee said:

MH must revise its service recovery SOPs as a matter of urgency.

Need to wait for the new CEO to commence his or her work, then the current C-suites will be reassigned one by one to other companies under Khazanah Nasional. The new MBA holders will come in learn about aviation industry from scratch again, change strategy to full premium, fight with Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, fly to all six continents, order every available aircraft in Airbus and Boeing brochures or let those A330-900 and B737 max 8 options go expire, then few more botch-ups, a few more AOGs and a few more half-ass sorry-s, rinse and repeat. 

Passengers are nuisance to them, please make their life easier.......

(the above post is meant for sarcasm)

[Craig 0]

10 hours ago, KK Lee said:

If is inline with EU should be sufficient.

I think EU/UK 261 compensation is an exception for most countries.  But other provisions could be adopted. 

9 hours ago, Robert said:

its still weak and doesn't address many many issues. No EU261 compensation, nothing to tighten and enforce an airlines responsibility to passengers during IRROPS>

MH are refusing to reroute many affected people or use certain airlines. There latest is that they will not place you on another carrier until 14 or less days before your flight. By this time the fights will be sold out.  

Malaysian carriers will go bankrupt if they are required to pay RM600 for delay of 3 hours or more (and not even €600) lol. I don't think there are other countries other than those in the EU and UK that has this form of compensation. Not that I am opposed to it, but baby steps. The refund for any unused taxes, fees and surcharges is huge. I don't believe even the EU has that. But then again, what's stopping airlines from charging say a RM300 fee to cancel and those taxes, surcharges will be refunded after you pay that RM300 fee 🤔

I know of people who were put on TG or CI. But no such luck for me. They wouldn't even let me change other segments of the itinerary which is dumb (only segment 2 is affected out of the 4 segment trip). They told me that those are voluntary changes and I will be charged fare difference. But I have a short trip and MH rebooked my flight 9 hours later making it almost a trip in vain. 

I've friends whose flights are moved 5 days later (ICN/NRT) and when they asked if MH will pay for their accommodation or missed work days whilst stuck in Seoul, MH flatly said out no.

3 hours ago, Kee Hooi Yen said:

I normally book my flights many months in advance for my holidays. Often I receive flight change notification from the airlines from the time I book to departure date. Sometimes the change could be as minor as 10 minutes, or alternate days but all of them would ask if I accept the change or a full refund. The happened to one of my flights with MH a couple of months ago.

i thought this is already a common practice in aviation industry but it seems not, at least for MH from what I read above ?

It is common practice with MH too. I received text and email about flight changes. If it's a minor one, then they'll usually accept. Thankfully until last week, I haven't had a major schedule change/cancelations with MH. And before this meltdown, MH was quite accommodating because they only have to deal with maybe several hundreds of re-accommodation after a schedule change/cancellations rather than now in the tens of thousands. 

They didn't invest in their IT to allow passengers to perform changes by themselves and there are problems with phone agents reissuing tickets (or rather some changes made through phone agents weren't reissued at all), and the refund still shows a penalty for anyone who has a canceled flight. All these should have been done ages ago (Mavcom require mandatory refund for any canceled flights and it's not new). People will forgive when MH dropped the ball (everyone fumbles in life). If MH made up with passengers by offering the best connection or flight with other airlines, sure it's inconvenience but they tried their best and there's nothing more MH could have done. But this is the complete opposite.

[KK Lee 5]

10 hours ago, Craig said:

 

I know of people who were put on TG or CI. But no such luck for me. They wouldn't even let me change other segments of the itinerary which is dumb (only segment 2 is affected out of the 4 segment trip). They told me that those are voluntary changes and I will be charged fare difference. But I have a short trip and MH rebooked my flight 9 hours later making it almost a trip in vain. 

I've friends whose flights are moved 5 days later (ICN/NRT) and when they asked if MH will pay for their accommodation or missed work days whilst stuck in Seoul, MH flatly said out no.

Unless don't have choice, why want to take risk with mana ada system.

[Craig 0]

1 hour ago, KK Lee said:

Unless don't have choice, why want to take risk with mana ada system.

Schedule, price, alliance for miles and status, halal meals, familiarity, nonstop flight.

[jahur 0]

Extend refund policy to others, including airport operators, says Fernandes

KUALA LUMPUR:

The transport ministry’s new refund rule should apply to all stakeholders, including airport operators, and not just airlines, Capital A Bhd’s CEO, Tony Fernandes, said.

Fernandes also said the rule should have some exclusion clauses, as there are possibilities that delays could be caused by suppliers, traffic control, and information technology outages.

It is correct if the airline is at fault, but it is always easy to blame the airline. There are many issues like the recent Crowdstrike problem, where the system falls apart, and weather,

he said after witnessing AirAsia’s inaugural flights to Sabah and Sarawak from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang today.

Fernandes said there have been huge supply chain issues, and all airlines are suffering.

“However, we do not need to be told that (refund to passengers) because we are already going to do it anyway.

Running an airline is tough, and we rely on suppliers to provide us with engines and spare parts, for example,

he said.

He said the global CrowdStrike IT outage caused airlines to lose millions in revenue and had created chaos.

Airlines need answers and compensation, he said, adding that the low-cost carrier has been in consultation with an American lawyer on the matter.

On Aug 28, transport minister Loke Siew Fook announced that from Sept 2 airlines will be required to offer passengers the option of a full refund for flight delays of five hours or more.

Last month, major institutions such as airlines, banks, media channels, and hospitals globally were hit by an IT outage linked to US cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike Holdings Inc.