KUALA LUMPUR (July 21): Malaysia is working towards minimising departure delays for flights to major destinations in the region, especially to China, according to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA). 

It said this was because there has been rise in delayed departing flights from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and klia2 in the first five months of this year, compared with the corresponding period last year.

"The percentage of delayed flights on departure at KLIA/klia2 varies from 9% to 37%, an increase of 2% to 23% when compared to the same months in 2016," DCA said in a statement today.

It said such situations arise due to three reasons — either singly or in combination — which are: airspace/airport congestion, especially within China; airspace constraints imposed on civil or commercial flight in the destination country or countries along the route; and large scale weather deviations (LSWD) that impacts airspace capacity.

It also highlighted all departing flights from any departure point are "subject to the readiness of the destination country or countries along the route to receive such flights".

“As a step towards addressing these problems, Malaysia as well as other countries in this region, together with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), are formulating appropriate means to minimise such airspace and/or airport constraints, aimed at reducing flight departure delays and ultimately lessen the impact of delays on the traveling public,” DCA said.

It added such departure delays put an economic impact on both airlines and passengers in terms of lost passenger time due to flight delays, cancellations or missed connections, as well as expenses for food and accommodations as a result of being stranded at point of departure.