In a significant ruling today, the High Court has ordered MYAirline Sdn Bhd to pay RM17.7 million in overdue airport service charges to Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd and Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd. The decision was made by High Court Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong, who allowed a summary judgment filed by the plaintiffs.
According to NST, the summary judgment was filed on November 9, 2023, after the plaintiffs argued that the airline had failed to pay the claimed amount, which had accrued and remained unpaid. The plaintiffs also stated that MYAirline had no valid defence against the lawsuit. The courts decision reflects that there was no issue regarding the airline's liability, as it had used the services provided by the plaintiffs.
Judicial Commissioner Gan ordered MYAirline to pay RM9,111,402.94 to Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd and RM8,636,150.08 to Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd, respectively. The total amount due comprises various charges that have been outstanding since October 18, 2023, when the lawsuit was initially filed.
The lawsuit brought against MYAirline listed six types of overdue service charges, which together amounted to RM17,747,553.02. These charges included:
Passenger service and passenger security charges: RM10,863,478.90
Landing fees: RM5,455,555.45
Parking fees: RM176,017.92
Aerobridge fees: RM655,760
Check-in counter fees: RM276,376
Late payment charges: RM339,373.72
According to the plaintiffs, MYAirline never disputed the content of the invoices and account statements issued to it within 30 days, which further supported their claim for summary judgment.
The plaintiffs, Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd and Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd, were represented by lawyers Shannon Rajan, Eric Gomez, and Katelyn Yeoh. MYAirline was represented by lawyer Nesema Jalaludheen.
This ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of timely payments in the aviation industry, where the failure to settle service charges can lead to significant legal and financial consequences.
Source: NST
