Transport Ministry to compile data on Covid-19 impact on airline sector

PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry will be compiling and looking at notes and data from the airline sector to find ways to handle the impact due to the Covid-19 outbreak, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The new Transport Minister said the information would also be made available to other ministries for reference.

He said apart from transportation, other ministries such as tourism and spin-off sectors from the latter were also affected.

"I have been tasked (by Cabinet) to get MOT to prepare notes that are clear enough to look at the effects due to Covid-19 and that can be made as a reference by other ministries such as Finance so we can come up with strategies to handle the impact.

"That will be my initial task as a minister," said Dr Wee in a press conference on Wednesday (March 11) shortly after clocking into his ministry.

Wee said initial reports showed local airlines have had many flight cancellations.

Malaysia Airlines, for one, had about 63% cancellation while AirAsia suffered about 70% cancellation due to Covid-19, while Malindo Air suspended 510 flights.

He added that the ministry would be calling top officials from the airlines to get detailed information.