PETALING JAYA: No flights in Malaysia have been affected or cancelled due to the haze so far this year, with aviation authorities and airlines continuing to monitor visibility conditions.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed that the haze has not affected any flights.
Batik Air Malaysia confirmed that it has not cancelled any flights due to haze this year.
“Batik Air continuously monitors weather and visibility across its network.
“All our aircraft are equipped for automatic landing, and our pilots are trained to operate safely in low-visibility conditions when the required operating criteria are met,” said Batik Air CEO Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy.
The clarification comes amid concerns that worsening haze and reduced visibility could affect flight operations, particularly during take-off and landing.
Malaysia Airlines said haze and poor visibility have so far had only minimal impact on its operations, although several domestic flights experienced minor delays.
“A few domestic flights experienced minor delays, including MH2716 from Kuala Lumpur to Sibu on Sept 1, which was delayed due to poor visibility at Sibu Airport,” it said when contacted.
The airline said flight decisions were made in accordance with international safety standards and CAAM guidelines, taking into account the latest visibility reports from Air Traffic Control, weather forecasts and minimum visibility requirements for safe take-off and landing.
It said schedule changes would be made as early as possible where adverse conditions were anticipated, although sudden deterioration in visibility could result in delays being confirmed closer to departure.
“Affected passengers would be informed promptly via SMS and e-mail using the contact details provided in their booking information.”
AirAsia, meanwhile, said it continuously monitors weather and visibility conditions across its network and works closely with airport and aviation authorities to assess any potential impact on its operations.
“The safety of our guests and Allstars remains AirAsia’s top priority at all times,” the airline said when contacted yesterday.
It said weather and visibility conditions were assessed against applicable regulatory requirements and operational limits as part of its safety protocols.
