Flights to be increased

> Will cater to high demand during festive seasons, says Loke

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry will ensure that airlines increase the frequency of flights for every festive season to cater to the high demand, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said besides increasing the number of flights, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) will also consider and approve additional flights for certain routes ahead of festive periods.

“The government will, after this, introduce additional flights not just for the Chinese New Year, but for all festive seasons, be it Hari Raya, Hari Gawai or Hari Kaamatan. We will make sure that there will be more flights in years to come.

“Additional flights have been approved for the Johor BaruKuching and Johor Baru-Sibu routes for the Christmas and Chinese New Year periods, which were applied by AirAsia Berhad,” he said in reply to a question from Mordi Bimol (PHMas Gading).

He added that 13 additional flights had been approved for each of the two routes.

Loke said Mavcom did not receive any request or application to increase the frequency of flights during the Christmas season from other airline companies.

“So far the flight frequency approved for the Christmas period is 31 flights per week for the Johor Baru-Kuching route and 10 flights for the Johor Baru-Sibu route operated by AirAsia

Berhad.

“The ministry also monitors fares for festive periods in conjunction with the Christmas celebrations and the price, which is not more than RM300, is still affordable,” he said.

To a supplementary question from Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa), Loke said Mavcom and CAAM would consider and approve additional flights for the Kuala Lumpur-Kota Baru route during festive periods, if there are requests from airline companies. – Bernama