Malaysian regulator says aircraft shortage ‘pressing issue’ as full recovery looms

The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) has identified aircraft delivery delays as a “pressing issue” for the country’s airline sector, as passenger traffic moves closer to a full post-pandemic recovery this year. In comments made alongside the release of traffic statistics for February, MAVCOM chair Saripuddin Kasim says the “current aircraft capacity” is an issue due to supply chain disruptions, causing delivery delays. “Therefore, it is imperative that airlines meticulously plan their network and allocate their resources efficiently,” Saripuddin adds. His comments come as Malaysian carriers anticipate deliveries of new aircraft: flag carrier Malaysia Airlines has Boeing 737 Max 8s and Airbus A330neos that will be delivered this year, while low-cost giant AirAsia is set to resume A321neo deliveries in the middle of the year. Malaysia Airlines has warned of delivery disruptions – especially on its Boeing narrowbodies – which has forced the airline to look at “adjusting our plans to match those disruptions”. The airline’s first 737 Max 8 was delivered late due to production delays at Boeing, and the airline has had to revise its delivery timeline for the remaining 24 examples it has on order. AirAsia’s plans to return all its parked planes to service has faced delays, amid the ongoing supply chain crunch. MAVCOM’s traffic statistics for February show a significant spike in demand, with passenger numbers up 12.6% compared to January, and almost 35% higher year on year, to 8.1m. Domestic passenger traffic rose the highest during the month, up 20.4% against January, while international traffic was up 5.9% across the same period. “This growth can be attributed to various factors, including the Chinese New Year festive period, the month-long school break, and the establishment of 30-day visa exemptions for tourists from China and India, which collectively stimulated travel demand,” states the agency. <br/>