In a statement, transport minister Wee Ka Siong recognised public outrage over the high ticket costs, particularly for flights to Sarawak, and said the ministry had met with Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air and AirAsia in recent days to discuss the need to lower these prices.
“Immediately following this meeting, Malaysia Airlines pledged to add additional flights to Sarawak in December. This should result in a reduction of airfares to the state,” he said.
Wee urged all local airlines to “take immediate action to lower airfares for travellers without the need for the federal government and its agencies to unduly intervene in the operations of these enterprises.”
He said that his ministry had also written to the Sarawak tourism minister Lee Kim Shin on Nov 18 to ask that the state government return the decision making power over flight frequencies to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).
“Although we fully understand and align with Sarawak’s need to contain Covid-19, state governments and their related agencies must do their part to let market supply and demand prevail and fully allow airlines to increase their air passenger service frequencies based on market-driven consideration.”
He said he had reiterated in his previous statements that fares would be lowered when restrictions on flight frequencies eased, adding that both Mavcom and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia are prepared to approve more flights.
In addition, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and the state transport authorities have also decided to increase the frequency of flights from 223 to 307 per week into the state.
These flights will be operated by Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, AirAsia, Malindo Air and Scoot from Dec 4 this year to Jan 5, 2022.
Pre-pandemic, there were said to be 502 weekly flights to Sarawak.
Wee said the high domestic airfares was of serious concern to his ministry, with many families eager to reunite ahead of the Christmas holiday period after many months of being apart.
“The government also reminds all industry players to refrain from hiking air fares to address the wide public perception that this is being done by airlines to recoup their losses during the pandemic.”
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