Azmin wants negative air safety perception to change

Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali (photo) said the negative perception over Malaysia's air safety needs to be addressed.

Azmin told reporters in parliament today that a downgrade by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) should not have a major impact on any airline from Malaysia.

"The issue here is about perception because the concerns expressed by the authorities are against the regulators and not the airlines. But now the perception is as if that the downgrade would have a major impact on Malaysia Airlines or any airline coming out of Malaysia," he said.

"So we need to correct that perception."  

The FAA downgraded Malaysia's air safety rating yesterday, restricting the country's airlines from adding flights to the US. 

"It does not mean the US is taking away current flights," Azmin said.

The FAA's safety rating is based on a country's aviation oversight regime and is an assessment of the country's civil aviation authority.

At present, the only Malaysian airline route to the US is from Kuala Lumpur to Honolulu via Osaka. The route is serviced by AirAsia X Bhd.  - Mkini