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Information and Tourism Minister Ken Lipenga said Tuesday he was “disappointed” with Air Malawi’s services, particularly the tendency to cancel domestic flights at will without informing passengers.
Lipenga cited as an example an Air Malawi 4 PM flight he was supposed to board from Lilongwe to Blantyre Tuesday but which he said was cancelled without being told in advance.
“I had to make arrangements to drive from Lilongwe to Blantyre in haste in order to attend a National Bank event. This serves as a sad reminder of the problems we continue to face at the hands of Air Malawi.
“I am aware of the difficulties they have been facing over the years. I know they have not been able to expand but the experience was less than pleasing,” he said.
Lipenga, who claimed several people have complained about abrupt cancellation of flights by the national airliner, described the situation as bad for the country’s tourism drive.
The minister said he has since complained to Minister of Transport and Public Works Henry Mussa about the issue because people are experiencing a similar problem with Shire Bus Lines. He said Mussa promised to look into the matter.
But Air Malawi tariff manager Tony Chimpukuso dismissed claims that passengers are not told in advance when a flight is being cancelled.
“I don’t want to go into a debate with the honourable minister but the truth is that all passengers who leave their numbers are always communicated to in advance if there are any flight changes,” said Chimpukuso.
He explained that the flight in question was not cancelled but simply rescheduled because the plane had an engine problem. He added that the flag carrier communicated the changes to all its passengers who left their contact details.
Chimpukuso said in the case of the minister, he might have been communicated through his secretary and may simply have missed the message.
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