Tony: Join me in fight for lower airport taxes

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Group Bhd CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes is calling on Malaysians to join him in his fight for lower airport taxes at the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2).

“For 16 years I’ve been fighting never-ending battles for lower airport taxes, open skies and new routes, amongst others.

“When airport tax was equalised in KLIA2, we were the only ones who fought and we are still fighting because we truly believe that it isn’t fair for passengers to be charged the same airport tax for KLIA and KLIA2 when the facilities and services are of completely different levels,” he said on his Facebook post yesterday.

Fernandes added that Malaysians need to join the fight against the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to ensure that unjustifiable charges would not be imposed.

“They need to listen to Malaysians. It’s not about being good to AirAsia and bad to Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS), or good to Malindo and not to AirAsia. Do what is good for Malaysians,” he said.

He also said that no airports are built the same and a “one-size-fitsall approach” does not work.

He added that he always dreamt of an aviation industry that was free from political intervention and one where decisions were based on merit and where healthy competition exists.

“It is a highly regulated business which requires all kinds of government support which means an invisible hand exists where we would never really be able to oper- ate freely,” he said.

Previously, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that Mavcom will be reviewing its passenger service charge (PSC) rates and the viability of setting ceiling prices for airfares during festive seasons.

Currently, the PSC chargers for domestic, Asean, and international destinations outside Asean, is set at RM11, RM35 and RM73 per person.

Loke also said that if it was possible, he would like to implement the new rates by next year.