AirAsia to stand up for group CEO over Mavcom police report

KUCHING: AirAsia Group says it will cooperate fully with the police on an investigation over the Malaysian Aviation Commission ( Mavcom) complaint against its Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

AirAsia said in a press statement yesterday it will emphasise that the video released by Fernandes on May 13 is fully supported by evidences and facts including direct communication between AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat and Mavcom chairman General ( RMAF Retired) Tan Sri Dato Sri Abdullah Ahmad.

“We will divulge the evidences and facts to the appropriate authorities at the right time.

“AirAsia strongly refutes the police report lodged by the Malaysian Aviation Commission ( Mavcom) against AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

“We will cooperate fully with the police on this investigation in accordance with the law and take all actions that are necessary to protect the interests of Air Asia as well as Tan Sri Tony Fernandes,” the statement said in response to the one issued by Mavcom hours earlier.

Mavcom had refuted accusations by Fernandes that it ( Mavcom) told AirAsia to cancel all 120 additional flights applied for by AirAsia during the 14th general election (GE14) period.

It said it had in fact approved all 66 additional flights which were applied for by Air Asia on April 23 and had never issued any directive to AirAsia or any other airline to reduce or cancel any flights where regulatory requirements were met.

“Mavcom views Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ claims as serious accusations and has lodged a police report,” Mavcom said in a press statement over Tony Fernandes’ video clip explaining why he buckled up to the previous Barisan Nasional government during the GE14 campaign period.

“To elaborate, all extra flight applications received by the commission are done via the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). AirAsia on April 13, 2018 and April 18, 2018 requested for a total of 54 additional flights ( 27 return journeys with a maximum volume of 13,660 passengers) to be operated during the GE14 period, which Mavcom approved on April 17, 2018 and April 18, 2018 respectively.

“At 3.20pm on April 20, 2018 (a Friday), the airline requested for an additional 86 flights (43 return journeys with a maximum volume of 15,480 passengers) to be operated during the GE14 period,” the statement said.

“However, on April 23, 2018 (a Monday) at 8.17am, the commission received a revised flight application for 66 additional flights ( 33 return journeys with maximum volume of 12,274 passengers) for the period of May 6 to 13, 2018 from AirAsia superseding its earlier applications. In its e-mail submission, AirAsia specified that its previous applications should be disregarded.

“The commission also took note of this revision and subsequently approved this revised request on the same day.

“Inclusive of AirAsia, the commission approved additional flight application of the various Malaysian- based airlines as of April 24, 2018 totalling 166 flights ( 83 return journeys with a maximum volume of 26,434 passengers).

“On April 19 and 20, 2018, Abdullah had communicated with all airlines to seek clarification if there was sufficient demand for the additional flights requested,” the statement added.

The commission reiterated that it had not issued any directive to any airline to reduce or cancel any flight.

Only AirAsia proceeded to reduce its application for extra flights while Firefly, Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air maintained their requests.

In light of the stated facts of the matter, the commission views Tony Fernandes’ accusation against Mavcom of informing AirAsia to cancel ‘...120 extra flights which would have carried 26,000 people on top of our normal flights...’ as baseless and malicious.

The commission is mandated under the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act 2015 (or Act 771) to act as an independent regulator for economic and commercial matters related to civil aviation in Malaysia.

Its goal is to promote a commercially viable, consumeroriented and resilient civil aviation industry which supports the nation’s economic growth.

“On no occasion did the commission exceed its stated powers under Act 771 nor fail to fulfil its goal in this matter.

“In fact, the commission promptly fulfilled its duties in the shortest possible time frame to facilitate the airlines’ activities for the GE14 that was held on May 9, 2018.

“Furthermore, to Fernandes’ statement that ‘...within 24 hours, we were summoned by the Malaysian Aviation Commission ...’, the commission categorically refutes that any AirAsia staff were summoned at all material times between April 17 and 13, 2018 to appear before the commission regarding this matter,” Mavcom clarified in its statement.

Mavcom said it had to lodge a police report on all these matters.