tumpang sekole...?: 13 juruterbang Air Asia sakit tiba-tiba...

Berikutkan isu kapal terbang milik AirAsia Bhd yang menangguhkan beberapa pejalanan Isnin dan semalam membuatkan ramai tertanya-tanya kenapa ianya boleh terjadi.

Jawapan yang diberikan oleh pengasas AirAsia dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Tan Sri Tony Fernandes di laman Twitternya mengatakan kelewatan dan pembatalan adalah disebabkan 13 orang juruterbang jatuh sakit dengan selesema.

Memetik laporan Malaysiakini, dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini, syarikat penerbangan itu mengesahkan bahawa beberapa penerbangan terganggu kerana masalah operasi.

AirAsia, kata kenyataan itu sedang mencarai penyelesaian untuk memastikan semua tetamu menikmati perjalanan yang lancar.

"Semua tetamu yang terjejas telah dimaklumkan dengan sewajarnya dan bantuan sedang disediakan. AirAsia ikhlas memohon maaf atas kesulitan yang berlaku."

Bagaimanapun, Malaysiakini melaporkan bahawa satu sumber dalaman AirAsia mendedahkan bahawa 13 orang juruterbang yang dikatakan sakit serentak itu sebenarnya bukan satu kebetulan tetapi satu rancangan untuk menunjukkan rasa tidak puas hati juruterbang kepada pihak pengurusan.

Ramai daripada juruterbang syarikat penerbangan itu dikatakan tidak berpuas hati mengenai keadaan kerja, khususnya berhubung jadual penerbangan yang ketat serta tahap gaji yang tidak setimpal.

"Ramai yang bosan kerja di sini. Jadi banyak ambil cuti sakit untuk membuktikan sesuatu. 13 juruterbang jatuh sakit dan syarikat bakal rebah," kata sumber itu.

Apabila ditanya kenapa syarikat tidak memanggil juruterbang 'standby', sumber berkenaan berkata, ramai juruterbang telah meninggalkan syarikat berkenaan, jadi mereka kekurangan juruterbang.

Ramai juruterbang tidak berpuas hati dengan persekitaran kerja dalam AirAsia dan cara mereka melayan juruterbang dan anak kapal( bekerja terlalu keras) dan ada fleksibiliti.

"Mereka terlalu letih tetapi terpaksa bekerja lebih masa atau gaji terpaksa menerima gaji yang sedikit, pihak pengurusan sebelum ini ada menaikkan sedikit gaji tetapi amsih jauh dengan gaji yang ditawarkan berbanding dengan syarikat penerbangan lain," kata sumber kepada Malaysiakini dan KiniBiz.

AirAsia tidak mempunyai kesatuan pekerja sehingga tidak ada cara untuk juruterbang atau mana-anak kapal untuk menjelaskan ianya mogok rasmi yang menyebabkan kenapa juruterbang memilih untuk mengambil cuti sakit pada waktu yang sama. - Siakapkeli.my

Questions over 13 'sick pilots' at AirAsia...

Question marks have arisen over why AirAsia Bhd was forced to delay or cancel multiple flights out of KLIA2 over Monday and yesterday, which left hundreds of passengers stranded at the low-cost terminal.

AirAsia founder and group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes told the New Straits Times (NST) that the delays and cancellations were due to a dozen pilots falling sick with the flu.

He said: “There was a flu epidemic in AirAsia and 12 pilots called in sick. So, no choice."

An AirAsia spokesperson later told the NST that 13 pilots had called in sick.

In a press statement today, the airline said: “AirAsia confirms that several flights have been disrupted due to operational requirements. AirAsia is working towards a resolution to ensure all guests enjoy a smooth journey.

“All affected guests are being informed accordingly and necessary assistance is being provided. AirAsia sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused.”

A source within AirAsia, however, suggested that 13 pilots falling ill at the same time was not sheer bad luck and said that it was in fact a mass show of displeasure from the pilots to management.

Some affected passengers vented their frustration on social media.

One of them tweeted "for the 'claim' record purposes, my ak6304 shift to ak6323. 12 hours delay 3.15 pm to 1.15 am." Another tweeted "AK 6323 Langkawi -KL.. Delay from 1515 till now 2047 still no news. Very bad image to the country. Typically a bad management".

One passenger, Noraizan Jamaludin, whose flight to the northern state of Penang at Monday night was affected, vented her frustration on her Facebook page. She said she was told to move four times, from one departure gate to the other before her flight was eventually cancelled at around midnight over what an airline official told them was due to "operational requirements."

The passengers were told to go to the departure hall for new boarding pass for the next day.

"By this time tempers among the passengers were flaring. Guards were deployed to protect AirAsia staff," she wrote. Ms Noraizan said they were not provided with accommodation as they were told that all nearby hotels were full. Many passengers had to resort to sleeping on the floor. - mk/says.om