In an attempt to revive air travel in the country, AirAsia and Malaysia Airports Holdings have decided to end all of their legal disputes. The two parties released a joint statement a few days ago saying that they have found “common ground to reach an amicable outcome” for their multiple disputes and plan to work together for the recovery of the industry.
On August 10th, Capital A Berhad (the holding company of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited) and Malaysia Airports Holdings announced that they have mutually agreed to end all of their legal disputes for the sake of the country’s travel and tourism industry.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Managing Director, Dato’ Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said,
“We are pleased to confirm that all parties are dropping proceedings. There are no longer any legal proceedings or material litigation from MAHB against AirAsia Berhad/AirAsia X Berhad.”
Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes was also happy with the decision and added,
“As the world recovers from the pandemic, and substantial losses in the aviation sector in particular, it is integral that all stakeholders work together to stimulate the air travel revival. As two major players driving the aviation ecosystem, it is more important than ever that MAHB and our Malaysian based airlines AirAsia Berhad and AirAsia X Berhad, show solidarity in making Malaysia’s aviation industry competitive and attractive again.”
The parties involved are believed to have put their differences aside for the benefit and success of all the aviation stakeholders, such as airlines, airports, and passengers, and to stimulate Malaysia’s tourism and economic growth.
According to ch-aviation, one of the lawsuits was filed by the airport group for outstanding Passenger Service Charge payments amounting to MYR41.55 million ringgit (USD9.1 million) against AirAsia and AirAsia X.
But the airline group contested that the airport operator had revised the fees in 2016, breaching a contract between the two sides.
Another dispute involved the two LCCs filing a case against Malaysia Airports alleging losses and damages sustained between 2014 and 2018 due to negligence, multiple disruptions, and poor conditions at KLIA2, the second terminal at Kuala Lumpur airport where these airlines operate
Spending time and resources on court cases is never an easy decision, more so in the wake of the pandemic, which crushed the airline industry in the last two years. But there have been green shoots lately as various stakeholders commit to bringing the industry back to good health.
Tourism Malaysia is encouraging various programs and events such as the ‘World Top Gourmet Awards 2022’ and other similar initiatives to bring back tourist revenue and strengthen the economy. For that, there must be a cordial relationship between the country’s major airline group and airports.
With the disputes ending, the hope is that AirAsia’s main hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport will work seamlessly and be more affordable for millions of passengers each year.