KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s civil aviation authority has reduced the validity of Malaysia Airlines’ air operator’s certificate from three to one year following an investigation into technical problems at the state-owned airline, the transport minister said on Wednesday.
The airline’s parent company, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), announced on Saturday that it would temporarily restrict its airlines’ flights and routes until December this year, following operational disruptions earlier this month.
Following the investigation by Malaysia’s Civil Aviation Authority, Malaysia Airlines has drawn up a recovery plan that will include an aggressive workforce recruitment program and a greater focus on safety and maintenance, Minister Anthony Loke said.
“To ensure compliance with the mitigation plan, Malaysia Airlines has been instructed to submit a monthly report on the status of the plan,” Loke said at a press conference.
MAG, which also owns airline Firefly and Muslim pilgrimage service provider Amal, has announced it will take immediate action to address significant issues that have led to operational difficulties, including supply chain constraints, technical bottlenecks and staff shortages, as well as other post-pandemic challenges.
The company also said it had been impacted by delayed deliveries of new aircraft, resulting in fewer aircraft available for operations.
(Reporting by Danial Azhar and Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Martin Petty)
