PETALING JAYA: Poor weather conditions in the latter part of the year have impacted flight on-time performance (OTP), according to airlines.

Batik Air chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said while the airline had made consistent month-on-month OTP improvements, September posed significant challenges due to severe weather.

He said the weather conditions not only affected Malaysia but also the wider Asean and North Asia regions.

OTP measures flight punctuality, requiring departures to occur within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, as defined by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).

Chandran said maintaining a strong OTP is important, noting that delays can be costly and adversely affect airlines’ operating expenses.

Despite the fluctuations, Chandran said Batik Air’s domestic OTP has remained resilient, consistently ranging from 74% to 83%.

He explained that nearly half of Batik Air’s flights operate between midday and midnight, making them more susceptible to the effects of extreme weather.

“Our pilots closely monitor changing conditions to ensure safe flight operations.

“However, when airspace congestion increases, maintaining punctuality becomes increasingly complex,” he added.

To enhance its OTP, Batik Air has initiated several measures, including improved fleet maintenance to ensure aircraft availability and the appointment of dedicated turnaround coordinators to ensure on-time departures.

The airline also collaborates with relevant authorities to reduce air traffic congestion and minimise delays.

AirAsia Aviation Group Limited group chief executive officer Bo Lingam noted that extreme weather events – such as Typhoons Yagi, Shanshan and Ampil in August and September – have led to widespread delays across all airlines in the affected areas.

“Additionally, some domestic airports, including Miri, Sibu and Johor Baru, were unable to extend their operational hours, which further exacerbated delays during this period,” he said.

Despite these challenges, AirAsia Malaysia’s year-to-date domestic OTP from Jan 1 to Oct 16 stands at 80%.

Bo added that the airline is continuously optimising operations and refining flight schedules to mitigate the ripple effects of delays on both domestic and international routes.

“In October, we ensured that all controllable delays should no longer pose an issue, allowing us to focus on further improving our operational efficiency,” he stated.

He also noted that AirAsia’s aircraft maintenance efficiency will be improved with the new state-of-the-art 14-line maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar.

On Wednesday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke informed the Dewan Rakyat that only 76% of flights were on time from Jan to Aug this year.

He mentioned that Mavcom is constantly monitoring the punctuality of local airlines operating at KLIA Terminals 1 and 2.

“To address the issue of delays and cancellations, the Transport Ministry and Mavcom have set an 85% OTP target and 80% for flights adhering to their schedules for all Malaysian airlines operating from all airports in the country, starting in April 2024,” he said in response to Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Anak Begri (GPS-Betong).

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/10/18/airlines-brave-bad-weather