AirAsia calls out MAHB as ‘selfish and un-Malaysian’ over additional PSC charges
SEPANG: AirAsia Group Bhd and AirAsia X Bhd have defended their refusal to collect the additional RM23 passenger service charges (PSC) at klia2 imposed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) from February 2018.
Riad Asmat, who helms AirAsia Group’s Malaysian operations said the move was due to its view that passengers using klia2 should not be charged the same rates as passengers in KLIA.
The group maintained that klia2 is a low-cost terminal with far lower levels of service provided to passengers compared to KLIA, which is a full-service terminal.
“On February 1, 2018, MAHB’s subsidiary Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd (MASSB), increased the airport tax charged on non-Asean international passengers departing from klia2 to RM73. Raising non-Asean international passengers airport tax to RM73 from RM50 effectively equalised PSC between klia2 and KLIA.
“AirAsia has been collecting, on behalf of MASSB, RM50 airport tax from every non-Asean international passenger departing from klia2 since January 1, 2017. To date, AirAsia has paid a total of RM663,051,008.52 in airport tax to MASSB.
“Passengers using klia2 should not be charged the same rates as passengers in KLIA, as klia2 is a low-cost terminal with far lower levels of service provided to passengers, compared to KLIA, which is a full-service terminal,” Riad said in a statement today.
He explained that the PSC, better known as airport tax, was charged on departing passengers by airports which airlines typically collect airport tax on behalf of airport operators as part of the air fare.
“AirAsia is not obligated to collect airport tax for MASSB, and we have refused to collect the additional charge from passengers on behalf of MASSB.
“From our calculations, the cross-claims far exceed the amount of airport tax that we have refused to collect for MASSB from our passengers,” he added.
On 11th December 2018, MASSB served with a writ of summons to AirAsia Group’s unit AirAsia Bhd (AAB) for RM9.4 million in PSC that AAB had not and refused to collect from traveling passengers.
AirAsia X also said it had been served with an unsealed copy of a writ of summons for RM26.7 million in alleged PSC arrears.
Riad said AirAsia had previously lodged a number of official complaints regarding the substandard infrastructure and access at klia2. This included unsatisfactory state of infrastructure at klia2, apron defects, ground depression, flooding, ruptured fuel pipelines and ad hoc runway closures due to continuous resurfacing requirements, closure of departure gates and damage to the aircraft.
The group claimed this had dragged its operational performance and punctuality.
“We reiterate we have tried, on various occasions, and without success, to engage MASSB on these issues. Regrettably, MASSB has, instead, decided to take the matter public and instigate legal action based on claims that AirAsia will strongly refute,” Riad said.
Source: NST
