By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 28: Airlines will soon be required to provide full refunds to passengers for flights delayed by five hours or more, announced Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
In a press conference in Putrajaya today, Loke stated that this new regulation, part of the amendments to the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016 (MACPC), will be gazetted and come into effect on Sept 2.
“Airlines must issue refunds using the original payment method, although they may also offer alternatives such as credit shells or flight vouchers.
“Passengers will have the option to choose their preferred mode of refund. Additionally, travellers can request a full refund if they decide to cancel their journey due to significant delays,” he said as reported by various national dailies.
Loke emphasised that the move was aimed at offering consumers better protection and ensure greater accountability from airlines.
In addition to flight delays, mandatory refunds will also apply to fuel surcharges, taxes, fees, and charges, including departure levies, passenger service charges, and carbon fees, for both refundable and non-refundable tickets if the flight is not boarded.
Loke further stated that any changes to a flight’s scheduled departure time must be communicated to consumers at least two weeks in advance, except in cases of extraordinary circumstances or unavoidable technical issues.
He added that the Malaysian Aviation Commission will continue to monitor airline performance to ensure compliance with the established industry benchmarks for the benefit of consumers.
“Non-compliance could result in a maximum penalty of RM200,000, with subsequent violations potentially incurring fines up to ten times the initial amount,” he said.
The new provision will take effect in January 2025. — DayakDaily
