Malaysia Airlines has hit the roadblocks again and announced schedule reductions, which have already resulted in many cancellations following a series of critical maintenance issues this week and in the months prior.
The most high-profile incidents were where two different Airbus A330 aircraft had to make an emergency landing this week (one in Alice Springs, Australia the other diverting back to KLIA) following engine problems.
Malaysia Airlines CEO has sent an email out to all customers, but of course, this does very little to alleviate the trouble resulting from these cancellations while MH is trying to get its act together. The company’s social media feed is already swamped with complaints, but of course, a canceled flight is always better than one that went down.
Here is the full press release by Malaysia Airlines following last week’s incidents:
Statement by Datuk Captain Izham Ismail
Group Managing DirectorFurther to my statement issued on 16 August 2024, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) acknowledges the additional disruptions that took place on the week of 19 August involving Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Amal services. I personally apologise for the disruption to passenger travel plans and the inconvenience this has caused.
As committed before, we are taking immediate steps to address the root causes of these significant issues that contribute to operational difficulties including supply chain constraints, manpower challenges, and other external factors as part of the continuing normalisation of global aviation operations post-pandemic. MAG has also been affected by the delayed deliveries of new aircraft this year, leading to less aircraft being made available for operations than planned.
We are working closely with our aircraft and engine manufacturers, and a wide range of suppliers to comprehensively address supply chain and technical issues.
As this takes place, MAG will need to temporarily reduce its network between now to December 2024, to execute corrective measures where needed. This is to ensure the longterm reliability of our fleet and robustness of our operations and enhance our ability to ensure our customers on Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Amal services face minimal disruptions and have the best experience possible flying with us.
MAG deeply regrets the significant inconvenience the flight cancellations will be to our passengers. Ensuring our aircraft are in optimal condition for safe and efficient operations whilst minimising potential disruptions are our utmost and urgent priority. We are committed to strengthening our operations and positioning the company for long-term success and growth.
We appreciate our customers’ understanding and support as we work through these challenges. Affected customers will receive an email notification related to the cancellation of their flight followed by an updated itinerary. Passengers may also make immediate changes to their booking based on the preferred alternative, by using the ‘My Booking’ function on our website at the following link https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/home.html. Those requiring further assistance may reach out to the Live Chat support on the Malaysia Airlines and Firefly website/app or contact our Global Contact Centre at 1 300 88 3000 (inside Malaysia) or +603 7843 3000 (outside Malaysia).
Malaysia Airlines has come up with lofty excuses for its substandard operations before, but pulling a COVID excuse in mid-2024 is really taking the cake.
Malaysia’s former Transportation Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has (in a Facebook post) now called for an investigation of Malaysia Airlines, citing several high-profile incidents in just two months.
He listed the key events as follows:
- Jan 9, 2023 – Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330 experienced a significant fuel system issue during a flight from KL to Melbourne, resulting in an emergency landing.
- April 3, 2023 – A Malaysia Airlines flight was forced to turn back to KLIA shortly after takeoff due to technical issues.
- July 10, 2023 – A Kuching-bound Malaysia Airlines flight had to abort takeoff at KLIA due to technical issues.
- Sept 14, 2023 – A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-800 encountered a runaway excursion during takeoff at Melbourne Airport.
- June 20, 2024 – A KL-bound Malaysia Airlines flight from India made an emergency landing at Hyderabad Airport due to an engine problem.
- June 24, 2024 – A Bangkok-bound Malaysia Airlines flight was forced to turn back to KLIA due to pressurization issues.
- Aug 16, 2024 – A Malaysia Airlines flight from Melbourne made an emergency landing in Alice Springs due to engine trouble.
- Aug 21, 2024 – A Shanghai-bound Malaysia Airlines flight was forced to turn back to KLIA due to pressurization issues.
Aside from the incidents listed by Mr. Wee, it has also been reported that a Jeddah-bound Malaysia Airlines flight had to turn back to KLIA due to a technical problem according to the New Straits Times.
“The public is questioning, ‘What has happened to Malaysia Airlines? Is it safe to fly with Malaysia Airlines?’ said Wee.
“This seems to be a crisis of confidence among passengers in Malaysia Airlines, which is likely to damage the country’s reputation and potentially lead to losses for Malaysia Aviation Group if these incidents continue.”
Aviation Source also has an interesting video on YouTube about the two incidents involving the two Airbus A330’s:
With Malaysia Airlines’ unfortunate history, one would think that taking care of the fleet would be their priority to avoid another accident that costs lives but management appears to be really nonchalant about everything.
Not only do the planes have problems, the Regional Golden Lounge has become rather terrible with extremely poor ventilation, and when I was there last week, it reeked like a fast food joint, absolutely disgusting. Going downstairs to the Starbucks was the best choice.
Staff also appears to be as unmotivated as ever before. Gate agents sat around, playing on their phones while being rude to passengers who approached the counter to inquire about the incorrect monitor display.
Conclusion
Malaysia Airlines is in hot water again following several high profile safety incidents in recent months, two of which occurred within the last week alone.
The company has now reacted to growing calls from the public, regulators, and politicians to get the safety record under control. As a consequence, MH’s CEO has advised passengers that they flight network will undergo a reduction in the coming four months to dedicate more manpower to maintenance.
It’s hard to say if and where Malaysia Airlines has been cutting corners over the past few years, but that they now come with the trusty Covid excuse is a really cheap way of trying to deflect blame.
Would you trust Malaysia Airlines to fly you around these days?
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