Suruhanjaya Penerbangan Malaysia (MAVCOM) berkata ia dengan jelas dan tidak berbelah-bahagi menggesa AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) menilai semula cadangannya untuk menganggap pengguna perjalanan udara sebagai pemiutang dan hanya membayar 0.5 peratus daripada nilai tiket dibeli seperti diumumkan pada 18 Oktober 2021.
MAVCOM dalam kenyataan media pada 13 November 2021/Sabtu berkata, ia mengambil pandangan pengguna perjalanan udara tidak sepatutnya diklasifikasikan sebagai pemiutang.
Katanya ia kerana pengguna perjalanan udara tidak, antara lain, menjual sebarang produk, menyediakan perkhidmatan atau membuat pinjaman kepada AAX tetapi sebaliknya telah membayar wang bagi pembelian tiket sebagai pendahuluan untuk penerbangan mereka.
"Oleh itu, MAVCOM mengulangi pendiriannya bahawa AAX harus membayar balik pengguna perjalanan udara untuk tiket yang telah dibeli.
"Jika AAX gagal membayar balik pengguna perjalanan udara yang terjejas dengan sewajarnya, MAVCOM tidak akan teragak-agak untuk menggunakan kuasanya di bawah Akta Suruhanjaya Penerbangan Malaysia 2015 (Akta 771)," kata pengawal selia penerbangan awam itu.
Suruhanjaya penerbangan itu menekankan komitmennya untuk melaksanakan tugasnya di bawah Kod Perlindungan Pengguna Penerbangan Malaysia bagi memastikan hak pengguna perjalanan udara dilindungi.
Pada 11 November 2021, MAVCOM menghantar surat kepada AAX sebagai tindak balas terhadap pelaksanaan penstrukturan semula hutangnya yang berterusan.
Menurut MAVCOM, AAX sudah berulang kali dalam surat-menyuratnya dengan MAVCOM dan dalam kenyataan mereka kepada orang ramai, memberi jaminan bahawa AAX komited untuk membayar balik pengguna perjalanan udara yang tidak dapat terbang kerana pembatalan penerbangan.
MAVCOM To Exercise Its Statutory Powers If AirAsia X Berhad Does Not Reimburse Air Travel Consumers for Tickets Purchased
MEDIA STATEMENT
To quote:
Spokesperson
Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM)
12 November 2021
MAVCOM To Exercise Its Statutory Powers If AirAsia X Berhad Does Not Reimburse Air Travel Consumers for Tickets Purchased
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, on 11 November 2021, had issued a letter to AirAsia X Berhad (“AAX”) in response to its ongoing debt restructuring exercise. This letter follows from MAVCOM’s various earlier correspondence with AAX.
In this 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 per cent of the value of tickets purchased as announced on 18th October 2021. 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.