We have proof of Mavcom cancellation: AirAsia

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia has refuted the police report lodged by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) against its group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (pix).
"We would like to emphasise that the video released by Tony on May 13 is fully supported by evidence and facts including direct communication between AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat and Abdullah (Mavcom's executive chairman Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad). We will divulge the evidence and facts to the appropriate authorities at the right time," it said in a statement today.
It said AirAsia will cooperate fully with the police on this investigation in accordance with the law and take all actions that are necessary to protect the interests of AirAsia as well as Fernandes.
Earlier, Mavcom had lodged a police report against Fernandes for claiming the commission had asked AirAsia to cancel all 120 additional flights it had applied for during the election period.
Mavcom said it had approved all 66 additional flights applied by AirAsia on April 23.
The commission said it had never issued any directive to AirAsia or any other airline to reduce or cancel any flights where regulatory requirements were met.
It said the commission views as baseless and malicious Fernandes' accusation that Mavcom told AirAsia to cancel "120 extra flights which would have carried 26,000 people on top of our normal flights" .
Mavcom said it refuted his statement that "within 24 hours, AirAsia staff were summoned by Mavcom".
It said between April 17 and May 13 no AirAsia staff were summoned at all material times to appear before the commission regarding this matter.
It said the commission is mandated under the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act 2015 to act as an independent regulator for economic and commercial matters related to civil aviation in Malaysia.