AirAsia disappointed at Immigration laying blame

AirAsia says it is disappointed at the Immigration Department’s attempt to lay blame on the low-cost carrier for the congestion at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) yesterday.

In a statement today, AirAsia chief executive officer Aireen Omar (left) said the Immigration Department was already informed of the required services at the LCCT.

"We are disappointed with the remarks from the Immigration Department which attributed the fault to AirAsia.

"The announcement of AirAsia’s operations to move to KLIA2 was made on April 15, 2014 after discussions and mutual agreement with Malaysia Airports Berhad.

"We have kept the Immigration Department well informed on the adequate facilities needed to facilitate our guests," she said.

Aireen was responding to Immigration Department director-general Aloyah Mamat who blamed AirAsia for refusing to move earlier to KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2) which led to the clog-up at the LCCT.

"A large portion of Immigration Department personnel have been deployed to KLIA2 and only a few international counters and four auto-gates for Malaysians are open at the LCCT," Aloyah had toldMalaysiakini.

Aireen said AirAsia accounts for at least 90 percent of traffic at LCCT and will still be operating at LCCT until May 8 before moving to KLIA2 on May 9.

"There will still be a steady flow of guests travelling through the LCCT till then and adequate immigration counters should continue to be open to cater to the high traffic volume here," she said.

Addressing the congestion yesterday which saw guests missing their flights, Aireen said AirAsia has assisted them to change flights.

"We were made aware of the situation at the immigration counters yesterday and we feel for our guests who were affected by it.

"Some of them missed their flights due to the long queues and we have assisted them by waiving their flight change fee," she said.



Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/261871

Immigration: LCCT clog-up AirAsia's fault

The bad congestion at the immigration gates involving about 1,000 passengers at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang yesterday was airline AirAsia's fault, the Immigration Department said.

Its director-general Aloyah Mamat said this occurred because AirAsia refused to move to the new terminal, the KLIA2, on May 2, like the other airlines, and intends to stay at LCCT until May 9.

As such, Aloyah (left) said, AirAsia passengers still travelling through the LCCT have to contend with fewer immigration counters because of staff shortage.

"A large portion of Immigration Department personnel have been deployed to KLIA2 and only a few international counters and four auto-gates for Malaysians are open at the LCCT.

"The Immigration Department cannot deploy many personnel at LCCT as all airlines, but AirAsia, have moved to KLIA2.

"AirAsia's refusal to move to KLIA2 (on May 2) is cause for the congestion," she said in a text message to Malaysiakini.

'Several meetings held with AirAsia'

Aloyah added that several meetings were held with AirAsia to persuade it to move to the new budget carrier terminal on May 2, but it still refused.

However, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) senior general manager (operations) Azmi Murad toldBernama that all 17 immigration counters and auto-gates at LCCT were open.

Azmi said the congestion could be due to the peak period at LCCT, between 3pm and 5pm, when many international flights arrive.

Checks by Bernama late last night showed that all was in order at LCCT.