‘Airfare ceiling price to be decided by month-end’

KUALA LUMPUR: The ceiling price for airline tickets will be decided by the end of the month, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

This would be determined after a study was conducted, he said, adding that the mechanism would be improved by setting a fare rate without including other charges.

Loke said the ceiling price would be reviewed frequently, in line with current needs, through the agreement between the Transport Ministry, Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) and MASwings.

“Through the enhanced mechanism, the rate will eliminate other charges, such as fuel surcharge.

“All this will be concluded together. Mavcom will submit the findings of the study and propose solutions to the ministry for consideration and actions,” he said in a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Loke was responding to a question by Lau Kiong Yieng (PH-Lanang), who asked on the status of the study by Mavcom on whether the ceiling price could be imposed on airfares, especially during festive seasons, including flight tickets to rural destinations operated by MASwings.

Loke said the ministry was concerned with the excessive ticket prices issued on normal days, especially for flights in Peninsular Malaysia.

“Pricey flight tickets need to be looked into to find out the reason behind the expensive rates,” he said when answering a supplementary question from Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (Pas-Kota Baru) on the expensive airfare rates during non-peak season.