US air safety body, the FAA, has reportedly cut Malaysia’s air safety rating.

Reuters reports the FAA downgraded Malaysia to category 2 in a surprise move.

This would result in no more flights to the US from Malaysia carriers being granted approval.

It also restricts new joint codesharing agreements between US and Malaysian carriers.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and the FAA have not confirmed the downgrade although Reuters cites four different sources familiar with the matter.

The only route connecting the two countries is the AirAsia X service from Kuala Lumpur to Honolulu via Osaka in Japan.

That is likely lead to more inspections from FAA officials.

The FAA’s safety rating is based on various oversight criteria employed by a country’s aviation agency and how effective it manages it.

A downgrade doesn’t suggest that Malaysia’s airlines are unsafe but only that safety oversight by the aviation agency needs improving.

A new Category 2 rating will result in more frequent International Aviation Safety Assessment Program audits of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia by the FAA.