PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia Airlines Bhd's air operator certificate (AOC) will be reduced from the current three years to one year, effective from Sept 1 this year to Aug 31, 2025.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the decision was made to ensure more frequent audits by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), following a probe into technical issues faced by the national airline.
"A shorter AOC period will necessitate more frequent audits. This is to ensure that Malaysia Airlines takes appropriate improvement actions as outlined in the mitigation plan submitted by CAAM." he told reporters.
The mitigation plan for Malaysia Airlines includes aggressive labour recruitment, reducing services, and a greater focus on safety and maintenance, among other measures.
Additionally, Loke said CAAM will continue to monitor and conduct safety audits on all aircraft owned by airlines operating in Malaysia to ensure adherence to safety regulations.
Previously, Malaysia Airlines and its parent company, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), which also includes Firefly, had apologised for recent increases in flight delays and cancellations.
MAG group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail had attributed the disruptions to factors such as weather, technical and manpower challenges, supply chain constraints, and the ongoing normalisation of global aviation operations post-pandemic.