KUALA LUMPUR – Thousands of travellers flying in and out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2 to and from the Borneo states have been left stranded as airlines struggle to reschedule their flights.
This is due to the eruption of Mount Ruang in Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, which has resulted in extensive volcanic ash clouds affecting airspace and visibility in the region.
Checks by Scoop showed scores of passengers at both KLIA terminals feeling disappointed and agitated due to the cancelled flights, with hopes that the airlines would reschedule them soon.
Sixty-three-year-old Jirang Yahya, who travelled to the peninsula for the Hari Raya holidays, hopes to return home to Sandakan without any unforeseeable issues.
“I’ve been here for two weeks now, and I’m eager to return home soon. It’s been (like this) since 10am, and I’m hoping to secure another flight for myself and my family,” he said.
Jirang also hopes the airline can provide accommodation for his family if no flights are available soon.
Construction supervisor Mazlan Ab Rahman, 59, said it was important for him to return to work promptly, stating that he could not afford to take any further leave.
He was supposed to board a flight to Kuching this morning.
“I need to fly to Kuching due to my work commitments; I’ve already had a long holiday, and I was supposed to return on April 15. I really must get back to work,” he said briefly.
Meanwhile, Mohd Hasrul Anuar, 37, said he was only informed of the cancellation of his flight mere moments before departure.
“I received an email notification from Malaysia Airlines at approximately 7.54am informing me of the cancellation of my flight, which was scheduled for around 8am.
“I need to travel to Kota Kinabalu for work. I hope I can secure a flight tomorrow. However, if that is hard, I would appreciate a refund to arrange alternative travel plans,” he said.
Civil servant Suraini Bacho, 48, from Sandakan, is another passenger troubled by her flight’s cancellation.
“I need to fly back as soon as possible. I have a family event to attend, and by the looks of it, I won’t be able to attend it.
“I really hope I can catch the earliest flight back because I have things to do, but I understand if I can’t due to safety reasons,” she said.
It is not just locals who find themselves stranded due to the cancellations – tourists like Anna Skjerning, a 21-year-old from Denmark, are also impacted.
“I found out about my cancelled flight around 9am, merely two hours before it was scheduled to depart.
“I’m hoping to secure either a new flight for tomorrow or a refund since I’m on vacation and would rather not lose a precious day,” she said.
Earlier today, the Civil Aviation Authority said clouds of volcanic ash following the Mount Ruang eruption were moving towards Kota Kinabalu airspace in Sabah, posing a risk to aircraft safety.
In a statement, it said that airlines and aircraft operators needed to monitor meteorological updates, advisories and information related to volcanic ash issued by the authorities.
Members of the public involved in flights to or from the affected areas are also advised to stay informed about developments in volcanic eruptions and the current flight schedules issued by airlines.
This comes after dozens of flights between Kuala Lumpur and East Malaysia were cancelled, leaving thousands of travellers stranded at several airports in the country. – April 18, 2024
