Air safety downgrade may hit local airlines badly

There are effects that will be felt across the board. Potential passengers might opt for other airlines... DATUK SERI AZHARUDDIN ABDUL RAHMAN Former Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia chairman

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to downgrade Malaysia’s air safety rating to Category 2 could have bigger ramifications than just affecting flights to the US, said experts.

Despite assurances by the government that the impact on local airlines would be minimal, experts said that past cases had proven otherwise.

Captain (Rtd) Abdul Rahmat Omar, 53, a former investigator with the Royal Malaysian Air Force and a root-cause analyst and accident investigator, cited how Thailand faced a similar predicament in 2015.

“When Thailand was placed in Category 2, Japan and South Korea blocked new flights from Thailand from flying there. As a result, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Airways and NokScoot were forced to cancel some flights to South Korea and Japan.”

Thailand lost its Category 1 rating in 2015 after the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) found notable concerns following an audit.

The aftermath of the decision saw China, Japan and South Korea moving to ban Thai airlines from operating charter flights or adding new services or routes to these countries.

He said the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) would have to study the shortcomings and make improvements to ensure that the eight critical elements stated in ICAO’s Document 9734 (Safety Oversight Manual) were covered adequately.

He said the loss of personnel on CAAM’s part over the last few years could have complicated matters further.

“Many CAAM personnel had gone elsewhere to work, especially to the Middle East where the pay is much better. I do not know if measures were taken to maintain those with experience and knowledge, and if the void was filled with those with adequate know-how. CAAM should always be audited by internal and external auditors to ensure that it remains above par.”

Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, who is former CAAM chairman, said local airlines, stakeholders, relevant agencies and the government would have to make a concerted effort to work towards restoring the country’s status back to Category 1.

“There are effects that will be felt across the board. Potential passengers might opt for other airlines instead of flying on a Malaysian airline. Those working in the local airline and aviation industry might face difficulty or come under more scrutiny when seeking employment abroad.

“This could affect tourism to some extent as Malaysian carriers base their operations in the country as a means of attracting tourists. If passengers are wary of flying on Malaysian carriers, there’s an effect that will be felt.”