by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic by ISMAIL CHE RUS

The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) allocated 53 air traffic rights (ATRs) to local carriers for the first three months of this year as the regulator seeks to create a transparent and robust sector.

Mavcom executive chairman Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi (picture) said there is a need to ensure the sector is regulated in a fair, consistent and transparent manner in order to make it more robust.

“In line with this and as part of the commission’s overall commitment as the economic and commercial regulator for the sector, we have been releasing ATR allocation details on a monthly basis on our website.

“This update for the first quarter of 2019 (1Q19) will serve to provide the industry with a consolidated analysis of ATR allocations during the period under review,” he said in a statement.

He added that in allocating the ATR, the commission undertook a thorough analysis, taking into consideration multiple aspects to facilitate orderly growth, competition and consumer choice.

Out of the 53 allocations, 100% of the ATR applications were made by local carriers. AirAsia Group Bhd was the biggest recipient with 26 allocations, followed by Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd (15), Malaysia Airlines Bhd and MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (nine), and FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd (two) and My Jet Xpress Airlines Sdn Bhd (one). Out of the total allocation, 67.9% were for international routes, while the others were for domestic routes.

Based on the figures, 17 were for domestic routes, Asean destinations (13), China (11), India (two), Australasia (five) and other Asian destinations (five).

Mavcom said 20 ATRs that were approved by the regulator were not used by the recipients and were returned during the 1Q19 period.

As of last year, a total of 205 ATRs were issued, with AirAsia the biggest recipient with 98 ATRs followed by Malindo Air with 52.