Government To Set Ceiling Price For Domestic Airfares Following Complaints From Consumers
The drafting of proposals is expected to be completed by June of this year.
By John Lim — 19 Mar 2018, 05:03 PM
The government is in the midst of drafting out a pricing guideline to control airfares for domestic flights
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said the government has directed the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) to regulate and set a ceiling price for domestic airfares.
According to theSunDaily, the move comes after persistent complaints from consumers concerning high ticket prices during the festive season.
Proposals will be drafted and finalised before the middle of this year
"We will establish the ceiling price for domestic flight tickets, and thus far, we do not control everything. However, this time the government will control the fares for domestic flights," he said this during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat earlier today, as quoted by Malaysiakini.
Aziz was replying to a question by Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP-Sibu) on Mavcom’s role in controlling airfares and how the government will be regulating pricey airfares on domestic routes during the festive season.
Aziz said that currently, the government did not set any pricing regulations and allowed airlines to set the fare based on their respective business decisions
To avoid paying exorbitant prices for flight tickets, Aziz advised the public to plan their schedule ahead and refrain from purchasing their tickets at the last minute.
Meanwhile, a study by Mavcom has found that domestic flight ticket prices, particularly to East Malaysia destinations, can increase by at least five times during the festive season
"The average flight ticket price from peninsular to Sabah and Sarawak is around RM160. During the festive period, a study by Mavcom has found that the ticket price can increase by five times," Aziz said when addressing the Dewan Rakyat.