Newsroom / News Releases / MAVCOM Allocated 53 Air Traffic Rights in Q1 FY2019

MAVCOM Allocated 53 Air Traffic Rights in Q1 FY2019
AirAsia Group received the highest number of Air Traffic Rights allocated

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3, 2019 – The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) wishes to update on the Commission’s allocation of Air Traffic Rights (ATR) to Malaysia’s local carriers for the period of 1 January to 31 March 2019.

Dr. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, Executive Chairman of MAVCOM, said, “The Commission is cognisant that a fundamental aspect of turning Malaysia’s aviation sector into one that is more robust is by ensuring that it is regulated in a fair, consistent and transparent manner. In line with this and as part of the Commission’s overall commitment as the economic and commercial regulator for the sector, we have been releasing ATR allocation details on a monthly basis on our website. This update for the first quarter of the year will serve to provide the industry with a consolidated analysis of ATR allocations during the period under review.”

100 per cent of ATR applications by Malaysia’s local carriers for the period of 1 January to 31 March 2019 were approved by MAVCOM, with 53 allocations in total. Of these, 52 ATR applications were approved in full while one application was approved partially. The AirAsia Group received the highest number of approvals with 26 allocations, followed by Malindo Air with 15 allocations.

Of the 53 applications, 32.1 per cent were for domestic routes while 67.9 per cent was for international routes. MAVCOM approved ATRs for 17 domestic routes, 13 for routes to ASEAN destinations, 11 for destinations in China, two for destinations in India, five for destinations in Australasia and five for other Asian destinations.

Breaking down the numbers further, a total of 26 international ATR were issued for flights originating from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, three for Kota Kinabalu International Airport, one each for Penang International Airport and Senai International Airport and five for other airports in Malaysia.

In addition, 20 ATR that were previously approved by MAVCOM were not utilised by the ATR recipient and were returned to the Commission during the period of 1 January to 31 March 2019. The highest number of unused ATR returned to the Commission was from the AirAsia Group with 13, followed by Malindo Air with five.

As reference, for the year 2018, a total of 205 ATR were issued. AirAsia Group was recorded as the highest recipient with 98 ATR allocated, followed by Malindo Air with 52.

“In allocating ATR, the Commission undertakes a thorough analysis, taking into consideration multiple aspects in order to facilitate orderly growth, competition and consumer choice over the long term as well as the prevention of consumer inconvenience,” concluded Dr. Nungsari.

Allocation of ATR is one of the Commission’s statutory responsibilities under the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act 2015 [Act 771]. MAVCOM performs the evaluation and issuance of ATR in accordance with the criteria set out in Act 771. Holding an ATR is required by air service agreements for a Malaysian carrier to undertake scheduled flights of which at least one travel point is in Malaysia and is commonly practiced in other countries globally. The ATR holder is required to utilise all the capacity granted to it six months from the date of grant of the ATR and failure to do so will require the unused ATR to be returned to the Commission.

The Commission’s publishes an Air Traffic Rights Report monthly and it can be found on MAVCOM’s website at www.mavcom.my. Summary updates on ATR allocated by MAVCOM will also be released on a quarterly basis.