Mavcom should share review of hike in charges

I REFER to the letter “Unfair to charge same passenger fee for KLIA2” ( The Star, Nov 7).

I agree with the writer that the facilities at KLIA2 are not comparable with the main terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) but I believe the planned hike in passenger service charge (PSC) by Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) for the second terminal (KLIA2) seems inevitable.

Effective January next year, KLIA and KLIA2 will have a standardised PSC. KLIA2 is a facility of inconvenience in many areas – the long walk to and from the gate, longer waiting time to pick up checked luggage and the long walk from the customs clearance point to the taxi stands. This is a bane to travellers, especially the elderly and mothers with infants.

With due respect to Mavcom, as a matter of principle, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the manager and operator of KLIA, should be the authority to decide on the proposed increase in PSC for KLIA2.

PSC collected from travellers are used in the daily operations of the airport operator. As a public-listed company and airport operator, MAHB is responsible for the management, operations, maintenance and development of the aeronautical and non-aeronautical components of KLIA, which includes KLIA2.

When it was listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia, MAHB was the first airport operator in Asia and the sixth worldwide to be listed. Due recognition must be given to MAHB as it is answerable to its stakeholders.

As one who has been working closely with the aviation industry in the Asia-Pacific region for the past 28 years, I am not wrong to say that in any country, the increase in PSC for the airport is left to the authority of the airport company as the operator knows best.

Several months ago when Mavcom announced the PSC, it promised to conduct a study to review the plausibility of the charges as well as the best mode of implementation.

While the commission is not obliged to reveal its findings, it should do so to satisfy the curiosity of the travelling public especially those who use KLIA2 regularly.

WILLIAM DENNIS Subang Jaya