Airlines need to be given more time

I REFER to the report “Airlines want clarity on new DCA fees” ( The Star, April 7).

The sudden 10-fold increase in air navigation charges and usage of Malaysian airspace by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) on airlines operating out of Malaysia comes not only as a shock but also a surprise to the carriers.

What is even more surprising is that the new charges would be implemented on April 15, two weeks after airlines’ executives were briefed on the new fees. A more effective date to implement the fees would be the start of a new year, like January 2017.

This would give the carriers time to plan and to include the new charges in their budget for the new fiscal year or decide whether to continue using Malaysian airspace and other services provided by the DCA.

According to media reports, the DCA’s last review of fees was in 1970. Why has it been silent all these years?

The DCA owes the carriers an explanation on this whopping 10-fold and sudden increase, whether it is justified in one go and how the new fees were calculated. The huge increase and immediate implementation is unprecedented by any standard from a civil aviation authority in international air travel. It would not be a surprise if some foreign carriers avoid Malaysian airspace after this. Should this happen, the local civil aviation industry will take a severe knock and Malaysian and international travellers will be affected in due course. It would also affect our tourism industry.

DCA director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman was quoted in media reports as saying that the rates needed to be increased because the agency was spending RM125mil a year just on maintenance, and that it is building a new air traffic control centre that would benefit the airlines.

It is the duty of the agency to have in place an effective and efficient system, and maintain it to keep abreast with technology in the aviation world otherwise international airlines would stay away.

DCA, think again on whether the hike should be implemented immediately or to give sufficient time for operators of the airlines to prepare themselves for the increase.