Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has commented that flight fares by Malaysian airlines are expected to go down by August this year, due to several circumstantial factors.

According to the minister, flight operators have been compelled to raise recent airfares partly because of the increase in jet fuel prices. But on top of that burgeoning expense, they are also required to shoulder the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) cost for their aircrafts. Briefly, the MRO process is an aircraft inspection and management procedure that lasts three months, mandatory for aircrafts that have been grounded for an extended period – such as during the Covid-19 pandemic – to ensure that the planes are still safe to fly.

Additionally, Datuk Seri Dr Wee acknowledged that airlines, too, have suffered a lot of losses during the pandemic. “Nevertheless, the Transport Ministry through the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) will continue to monitor the airfare prices daily to ensure that there will not be any party taking advantage of the situation,” he further said.

Datuk Seri Dr Wee also took the opportunity to encourage the public to get their flight tickets as early as possible if they plan to travel, especially during festive seasons. This will enable them to enjoy better prices. “The issue is, any airline company anywhere would charge more if one purchases a ticket too close to the actual departing date,” he stated.

For context, the price of flight tickets to East Malaysia during the previous Hari Raya celebration saw a significant increase of about 566% from regular fares, which led to a public outcry. Following that, Datuk Seri Dr Wee announced in mid-May that flight tickets for the Chinese New Year festive season in 2023 are already available, and urged travellers to book their flights early to avoid having to purchase expensive tickets at a later date.

(Sources: Lowyat.NET, The Vibes)

• TAGS:
• Air Fares
• Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong
• Flight Tickets
• Malaysian Aviation Commission
• Mavcom
• Transport Ministry