The transport ministry has found a solution to the high festive-season airfares after a 72-hour long talk involving the ministry, the Malaysian Aviation Commission, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Malindo.
This came after the meeting that began last Thursday (14 April) and the transport minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong is said to announce the details soon.
“They have come to a decision and I feel relieved as they have found a solution,” he said in a statement.
He elaborated that the meeting also took into consideration limitations faced by airline companies, particularly about their aircraft.
“Not many people understand that it is not easy for airlines to just operate additional flights when the aircraft has been left in the hangar for 2 years.”
“In order for these aircraft to be used, it needs to comply with a list of safety aspects and must go through a process of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) before it is approved for safe service,” he added.
The issue of air fares to Sabah and Sarawak has become a hot topic recently with prices on airline websites skyrocketed.
Earlier, the Transport ministry secretary-general Isham Ishak said that ticket prices have dropped by over 30%.
Dr Wee said the transport ministry is ready to cooperate with all parties to overcome the trend of rising airfares that are affecting not only Malaysia but other locations as well.
Airfares reduced to between RM105 and RM1,398
Dr Wee said economy class one-way fares to Sabah and Sarawak had reduced significantly for flights between 27 April and 8 May.
He said Mavcom had observed that the economy class one-way fare for 27 April to 8 May was between RM105 and RM1,398, while for the peak period of 29 April to 1 May, the one-way fare ranged between RM195 and RM1,398.
“The majority of flight tickets available for one-way economy class routes are only between RM300 and RM500,” he said.
Previously, the airfares ranged from RM105 to RM2,084, while for the peak period the range was from RM195 to RM2,084, with the majority of ticket prices ranging between RM700 to RM1,200.
