Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii has taken AirAsia to task, saying that the company's excuses for frequent and constant delays and rescheduling of domestic flights were unacceptable, and the budget airline should not sell tickets if it cannot deliver as promised.
"This has caused all kinds of inconvenience and even economic loss to the public. Especially during this festive season, this is unacceptable, and Mavcom should hold them accountable to protect the rights of consumers.
"While safety and security of the planes and passengers are of utmost importance, the company should have anticipated this situation, and if they are aware that they have insufficient planes, they should not have opened up for all those tickets to be sold to the public.
"If they know they cannot meet the demand, they should not have allowed the tickets to be sold," said Yii in a statement today.
Yesterday, AirAsia released a second apology on the matter, explaining that they have insufficient aircraft as they needed necessary repairs and maintenance after not being used for a long time, especially during the movement control order period.
The delay is also due to the long waiting queue for aircraft maintenance facilities for Malaysia and the region, and these aircraft must be repaired before they can be flown again.
AirAsia's explanation was issued after Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi demanded answers from the airline following a large number of complaints about flight rescheduling.
"We also raised the rights of consumers to receive compensation... I have asked AirAsia to provide a guide on the process to file complaints," said Alexander yesterday, adding that he expected the company to respond within 24 hours.
Yii said while the government stated that there be an investigation, such an investigation should not be an excuse to delay necessary action.
"There is no need for a lengthy investigation or even lengthy research into the issue as the flight records and even data are readily available… as evidence of constant delays and rescheduling.
"In my view, for consumers, it can be interpreted as a form of 'misrepresentation' if they purchase a certain flight at a certain time but yet get rescheduled to a different time," he said.
Yii claimed to have received complaints from a customer who booked tickets online and within a few hours received an SMS informing him that his flight had been rescheduled, despite it being two weeks away
"If they can foresee the problem, why sell those tickets in the first place? Customers are not just suffering the loss of that flight, but many have other connecting flights with other airlines which had to be changed due to changes in their AirAsia flight schedule.
"That is why Mavcom must hold the airlines accountable for this. Necessary action must be taken, and Mavcom must be more proactive to take action and not allow this to happen as this problem has been happening since April," the MP added.
Litany of complaints
The past week has seen numerous internet users complaining about delays and rescheduling of AirAsia flights.
On Sunday, Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau wrote on Twitter claiming that his 8pm flight was delayed twice, departing only at around 11.30pm.
Madius described his predicament as "simply crazy". He was scheduled to be a speaker at a forum on Monday afternoon.
A Twitter user claimed that her flight on May 7 was officially delayed by two hours, but there was no call for boarding even as they approached the two and a half-hour mark.
Another Twitter user called Xeronexo claimed that he and other passengers were stranded after they were told that they could not board because their flight was already full.
Last week, passengers Daphne Lee and Donna Tan told Malaysiakini that their flights to Kuala Lumpur from Penang and Kuching, respectively, were re-timed to nine hours later, and they experienced further delays at the airports.
This prompted AirAsia to issue its first apology. - Mkini
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