SEPANG: AirAsia Bhd is seeking more than RM400 million in counter-claims against Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) in response to a suit filed by the airport operator last month over airport taxes.
The airline said the counter-claims were for losses and damages experienced by AirAsia and its long-haul sister airline AirAsia X Bhd due to operational disruptions at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2).
“The disruptions include a ruptured fuel line, which impeded operations at Pier P for more than a month at klia2 from Oct 11 to Nov 22, 2016, and closures at Runway 3 on numerous occasions last year.
“Losses were incurred due to additional aircraft towing requirements and fuel costs, delays, manpower involved, flight cancellation resulting in loss of revenue and taxiing costs,” it said.
Last month, MAHB’s subsidiary, Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd, sued AirAsia Bhd and its long-haul affiliate, AirAsia X, for RM9.40 million and RM26.72 million, respectively, for alleged passenger service charge (PSC) arrears.
The PSC, paid by departing passengers, is collected by the airlines upon the purchase of tickets. It is later passed on to MAHB on the completion of the flight.
AirAsia said together with AirAsia X, it had applied to strike out MAHB’s suit on grounds that it was misconceived and premature as MAHB had not complied with the statutory provisions for dispute resolution within the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) Act 2015 Act.
According to AirAsia, Sections 74 to 78 of the Mavcom Act stated that both MAHB and airline operators have a statutory obligation to mediate any dispute regarding any matter under the act, and legal action may only be used as a last resort after mediation and dispute resolutions efforts have failed. – Bernama
