Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 9): Suasa Airlines Sdn Bhd, the private company that operates Monspace Airline, was fined RM380,000 after pleading guilty at the Sepang Sessions Court today for operating without a valid air service permit (ASP).

The airline has committed the offence under section 36 of the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act 2015, for carrying passengers for hire or reward on a non-scheduled journey between Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi without a valid ASP.

"For an entity to operate a commercial airline business in Malaysia, it is required to hold both an air service licence (ASL) or ASP issued by Mavcom and an air operator certificate (AOC) issued by the Department of Civil Aviation," the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) said in a statement today.

An ASP allows a company to operate charter flights, while an ASL allows it to conduct scheduled passenger services. The AOC, meanwhile, certifies that an airline comply with relevant technical competence and safety requirements and is granted by the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia.

On July 22, 2016, Mavcom had rejected Suasa Airlines' application to operate a non-scheduled commercial flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi as it did not possess a valid ASP. However, on the same day, Suasa Airlines continued to operate this flight as a "demonstration flight".

The commission had then proceeded to conduct a thorough investigation on the matter which was then brought up to the Attorney General's Chambers.

"Mavcom would like to stress the importance of complying with the laws and regulations, which is a fundamental requirement for participation in the industry. It is necessary for airlines to have all regulatory approvals in place before operations, as required not only by Malaysian laws but according to international standards and practice," said Mavcom executive chairman Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad.

"Stringent steps taken by the commission is ultimately to safeguard consumers, and therefore the commission is firm in its standing and will take actions on offenders that do not comply with the industry laws and regulations," he added.

Matters relating to the issuance, suspension and revocation of an ASL and ASP come within the scope of responsibility of Mavcom since its establishment on March 1, 2016.

 

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