MAS: 3-year operating cert reinstated after 2024 downgrade

Summary

• The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has restored Malaysia Airlines’ three-year air operator certificate (AOC) after earlier cutting it to one year last August due to safety and technical shortcomings.

• Malaysia Aviation Group is implementing a mitigation plan that includes stricter safety measures, recruitment of skilled staff, and reduced reliance on third-party maintenance.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has reinstated Malaysia Airlines’ three-year air operator certificate (AOC), after slashing the validity of the certificate to just one year in 2024.

Malaysia Airlines Berhad’s (MAB) chief operating officer, Nasaruddin A Bakar, said CAAM had confirmed the renewed three-year term for the AOC just recently.

“We just completed our audit quite recently. A lot of improvements have been made in the last 12 months across the group and not just Malaysia Airlines. 

“With that, the exercise was completed about two months ago, and they just made an announcement quite recently to us that we have attained a three-year AOC for Malaysia Airlines,” Nasaruddin said during a press conference at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec), in conjunction with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) fair.

Also present at the press conference were Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) managing director Izham Ismail and chief commercial officer Dersenish Aresandiran. 

MAG is the parent company of MAB.

Audit highlights disruptions

In Aug last year, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that MAB’s AOC was shortened to one year, down from three, after regulators flagged technical shortcomings at the state-owned carrier.

The Edge reported Loke saying that CAAM had imposed the tighter term to ensure MAB’s compliance with a mitigation plan unveiled by its parent company. 

MAG’s mitigation plan is understood to include strengthening aircraft safety measures, stepping up recruitment of skilled personnel, reducing dependence on third-party maintenance, repair and overhaul providers, and securing a consistent supply of engine spare parts from original equipment manufacturers.

Loke reportedly said that MAG was also instructed to submit a monthly report on the implementation status of its mitigation plan.

The plan was reportedly drawn up in response to flight disruption issues highlighted during CAAM’s audit between June 24 and June 28 last year.

Loke said that an audit conducted on MAB had exposed serious flaws, including mechanical component failures and a shortage of skilled maintenance staff.

Unified effort to fight wildlife smuggling

At the press conference, Izham also addressed the issue of wildlife smuggling, which has been documented repeatedly on Malaysia Airlines flights.

“Most importantly, airports need to equip the right scanning tool to ensure that we curtail wildlife smuggling.

“It is a battle that airlines have been combating, not recently. It has been for many years. Wildlife trafficking is actually an issue. It is very unacceptable,” Izham said.

He added that he had also discussed the matter with Loke and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Johari Ghani, during which he shared MAG’s concerns.

“Hence, it must be a unified effort, not by Malaysia Airlines or MAG alone. It must be a unified effort by the whole country to ensure that we curtail this wildlife trafficking,” Izham added.

On March 13 this year, Loke reprimanded Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad over rising cases of wildlife being smuggled out of the country.

He said it was a serious issue and wanted immediate action by the airport operator.

Loke said he was bewildered that, despite all luggage being screened, wildlife can still be taken into Malaysian airports and then depart on passenger flights.

Malaysia has emerged as a significant transit hub for illegal wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia and is among the top 10 global smuggling hubs, according to the Global Organised Crime Index.

In June this year, KLIA was identified as a top wildlife smuggling hub into three major Indian airports, with a Thai airport sharing the dubious honour.

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