The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) has imposed financial penalties on AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International), AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur International) and MA Sepang, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), according to a press release issued by the commission. The airlines breached the consumer protection code, while the airport operator failed to meet quality of service (QoS) standards.
According to MAVCOM, the airlines contravened the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016 (MACPC) in the period from August 10, 2019, to September 11, 2019, by charging credit card, debit card and online banking processing fees separate from their base fares. Both were fined MYR2 million ringgit (USD490,000) for the breaches.
The two airlines were charged with the same contravention in September 2019, this time in the period between June 1, 2019, to August 9, 2019. On that occasion, AirAsia and AirAsia X were fined MYR200,000 (USD49,000) each.
According to the ch-aviation capacities module, AirAsia is the largest seat provider at Kuala Lumpur International, with a weekly capacity of 270,000. AirAsia X is the third-biggest airline, with close to 74,000 weekly seats, behind Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur International) in second spot.
MAVCOM imposed a MYR865,875 (USD210,000) fine on MA Sepang for failing to meet several requirements of the Airports QoS Framework during the period of April 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019. The framework, which came into effect at Terminal 1 and 2 at Kuala Lumpur on September 1, 2018, was introduced to ensure that airport operators provide consumers with good standards of infrastructure and services at airports.
