Two flights cancelled at LTAPP due to haze

Two incoming and outgoing flights at the Penang International Airport (LTAPP) had to be cancelled today following the worsening haze condition in the state.

LTAPP Senior Manager Arif Jaafar said in a statement that the cancelled flights involved the Firefly Airline from Penang to Langkawi at 10.17am today and China Southern airlines from Guangzhou to Penang.

As at 4pm today, the Department of Environment (DOE) portal reported all areas in Penang recorded very unhealthy air quality with Seberang Jaya (245), Universiti Sains Malaysia (210) and Perai (187) recording the highest Air Pollutant Index (API).

Meanwhile, in GEORGE TOWN Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) set up three task force units today to deal with the haze.

USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Omar Osman said the three units are the Technical Task Force whose role is to advise the vice-chancellor and USM on short and long term decisions.

He said the second unit is the Special Task Force which scrutinises the provision of a detailed administrative guide when making decisions to cancel and postpone lectures.

The third unit is also a Special Task Force which is responsible for academic activities and making observations and suggestions related to lectures and tutorials, including the process of replacing lectures and tutorials, semester holidays and examination process, to ensure students are not affected by the situation, he said.

"At the same time, we will conduct health education series using experts in various fields based on the haze, involving the students and numerous other moves deemed necessary for the health of USM students and personnel," he said in a statement here, today.

In ALOR SETAR, four flights at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (LTSAH) were cancelled due to the haze.

LTSAH manager Puteh Ramli said the flights involved Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Malindo Air, covering the Alor Setar to Kuala Lumpur and Subang routes.

Two other flights were rescheduled involving Firefly and Malindo Air.

"The runway was closed at 7am today and reopened at 11am after visibility returned to normal. An estimated 900 passengers were affected when the flights were cancelled and rescheduled but their safety is our priority," he said when contacted by Bernama here, today.

According to the DOE website, the API reading in Alor Setar until 2pm today was at a very unhealthy level (249), 246 in Sungai Petani and 252 in Langkawi.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.