Reduce fares, airlines urged

‘Prices should be lower as airlines operating at full capacity’

PETALING JAYA: Airlines need to reduce their flight ticket prices at what they were before the movement control order (MCO) as they are now allowed to operate with full seating capacity, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Senior Minister said the Transport Ministry and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) had been tasked with discussing this matter with the airlines.

Ismail Sabri said this decision was taken during the special ministerial meeting that coordinates the implementation of the MCO.

“In the beginning, we understood why ticket prices were high because they (the airlines) could not accept full seating capacity due to social distancing measures. The maximum capacity they could accept was just 66%.

“But now, we have allowed airlines to operate with full capacity without social distancing measures,” he said during his briefing yesterday.

Ismail Sabri urged airlines to reduce their prices to normal levels, especially for teachers and students who would be resuming their classes.

He also called on Mavcom to discuss with the airlines on offering special ticket prices to students and teachers who would need to attend university or school – either back in Sabah and Sarawak or in Peninsular Malaysia.

Ismail Sabri said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican would also be presenting proposals to allow full contact training for team sports, such as football and combat sports, during the special ministerial meeting next week.

“The minister will also present proposals for organising sporting and recreational championship events,” he said.

However, Ismail Sabri said any decision to allow contact sport activities to resume would depend on the advice of the National Security Council and the Health Ministry.

He also pointed out that the police had arrested 16 individuals for violating the MCO on Thursday, two of whom were remanded and the rest issued with compounds.

Ismail Sabri also clarified that there were never any restrictions on the elderly – those above 60 years old – from going to public areas.

“What we emphasised was that they (the elderly), as well as children, were not encouraged (to go to public places).

“We did not say they were not allowed,” he said.

“As they were in the high-risk group we did not encourage them nor did we restrict them based on the law.

“We were merely advising them,” he added.

Normalised fares: ticket prices were higher during the MCO due to social distancing measures, but airlines have been encouraged to return to normal pricing as they have been given the green light to run at full capacity.