‘Need to equalise PSC’
> Failure to do so will cost govt RM60m in subsidies, says Mavcom
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will be forced to fork out RM60 million in subsidies if the passenger service charges (PSC) for long-haul international flights between the KL International Airport (KLIA) and klia2 are not equalised, said executive chairman of the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), Jen (Rtd) Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad ( pix).
From Jan 1, PSC for all international destinations from any Malaysian airport will be increased to RM73.
Currently, PSC applicable at nonAsean international destinations from klia2 is RM50.
He said from the experience of other countries, raising or lowering PSC does not affect passenger traffic but rather, it was the security situation and safety at the destinations that does, Bernama reported.
He said it was puzzling for certain airlines in the country to claim their profits were affected by higher PSC, when Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) passenger traffic numbers for November showed their traffic had actually increased.
Mavcom was set up in March last year to regulate economic and commercial matters related to civil aviation in Malaysia, which includes consumer rights.
He said the subsidies to MAHB were necessary as the airport operator had been maintaining airports for many years with insufficient funds.
Abdullah said that on average, only 4% of passengers would incur the additional cost when PSC is increased next year and “they can afford it”.
Although PSC would be equalised, Mavcom said airport charges in Malaysia still remained among the lowest in the region. PSC for domestic flights is RM11.
The last time Malaysia reviewed PSC was in 2011.
The move to equalise PSC for international flights was also welcomed by other countries and groups such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Air Transport Association, which had reservations about Malaysia having two international airports with differing PSC, he said.
Malaysia is now complying with aviation requirements which puts the country in good light among global aviation circles, he said.
He urged the public not to be taken in by certain quarters which make a big issue that equalising PSC was not good when in fact “it was the best for all of us”.
On PSC at other international airports such as London’s Heathrow for international destinations, he said it was at least 10 times more than RM73. He said the higher charges will go a long way in raising the quality of service at airports.