For domestic flights soon
> Mavcom instructed to conduct study, due to complete by June
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will set a ceiling price for domestic flights following complaints from consumers of high ticket prices during festive seasons.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi said an increase as high as five-fold in ticket prices occurred during peak periods.
He said the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) has been instructed to conduct a study on the ceiling price for domestic flights.
“The average flight ticket price from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak is around RM160.
During the festive period, initial findings by Mavcom have found that ticket prices can increase by five times.”
“Mavcom is in the process of setting up ceiling prices for domestic flights, due for completion by mid 2018,” he said.
He was responding to a question from Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP-Sibu) who asked about the role of Mavcom in regulating prices of flight tickets.
Ling asked about the measures undertaken by the government to ensure and Reports by ticket prices from the Peninsular to east Malaysia does not increase during festive seasons.
“The government has failed to control the price.
“During festive seasons, a flight from the Peninsular to Sabah and Sarawak can reach RM1,000 one way,” Ling said.
Kaprawi advised the public to plan their schedule ahead.
He said that they should refrain from buying tickets at the last minute.
He added that the price of flight tickets were set by airlines based on several factors, including market demand, economic situation and operational costs.