As Auckland closed its airport due to flooding, passengers on canceled Malaysian Airlines flights are still stranded at KLIA.
With an ‘atmospheric river’ parking itself over the top half of New Zealand, especially Auckland, intense flooding has battered the city.
Stuck in Kuala Lumpur
After Auckland International Airport (AKL) temporarily closed, passengers globally were displaced as airlines canceled or diverted routes. However, it seems as though frustrated passengers traveling with Malaysian Airlines are still stuck, with the below flights being canceled:
- MH145 – January 27, 2023, usually departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) at 20:45 and arriving at Auckland International Airport (AKL) at 12:05 the following day
- MH133 – January 28, 2023, usually departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) at 08:25 and arriving at Auckland International Airport (AKL) at 23:55 the same day
Passengers have claimed that they are still waiting for an update from the Malaysian carrier regarding when they will get to New Zealand after unsuccessful attempts to get resolutions from the airline call centers or airport staff.
Canceled on January 27 / 28
Initially displaced from flights on January 27 and 28, some passengers have returned daily to the airport in an attempt for more information. Their extended ‘holidays’ so far have been at their own cost for accommodation, food, and local transport.
Additional flights on Wednesday and Thursday
An email to passengers has advised that the carrier will schedule two extra flights between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and Auckland International Airport (AKL) on Wednesday, February 1, and Thursday, February 2, and is in the process of re-accommodating the stranded passengers onto these services.
“We wish to update you that we have just received approval to operate additional flights between February 1st and 2nd 2023 to facilitate your immediate transfer into and out of Auckland”
“Malaysia Airlines is actively rebooking affected customers onto these flights and issuing new tickets.”
Photo: GingChen / Shutterstock
Feedback from passengers
Multiple passengers have complained that there has been ”radio silence” from the carrier the last few days, with initial reports that there were ”no available seats until February 28,” as claimed by Auckland Michael Gunson.
Another passenger Dan Cocker has been in Malaysia visiting family with his wife and three children (aged 10, 8, and 15 months). He advised Radio New Zealand that he had been visiting the airport daily to find out more information, making his family increasingly anxious. He further commented:
“Our eight-year-old was in tears last night saying he’s scared about not being able to get home, about missing school,
”Every day we have to go back to the airport and wait for several hours for updates.”
Sources: Radio New Zealand
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- KUL/WMKK
- Country:
- Malaysia
- CEO:
- Dato’ Mohd Shukrie
- Passenger Count :
- 62,336,469 (2019)
- Runways :
- 14L/32R – 4,019m (13,186ft) |14R/32L – 4,000m (13,123ft)) |15/33 – 3,960m (12,992ft)
- Terminals:
- KLIA |KLIA2
