Mavcom to monitor air fares during peak periods

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) will monitor air fares so as not to burden consumers especially during the peak periods of school holidays and festive seasons, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Deputy Transport Minister Ab Aziz Kaprawi said the commission would also take appropriate action to ensure that air fares remain reasonable.

“Mavcom will investigate all complaints and ensure that such fare hikes be stopped and addressed,” he said when winding up the debate on the Mavcom (Amendment) Bill 2017.

Earlier, some MPs submitted public complaints claiming that airlines were charging high fares during school holidays or festive seasons.

Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor) proposed for the introduction of a 1Malaysia Student Flight Discount Card to facilitate students to fly.

“I understand there are students from Sabah and Sarawak studying in the peninsular, they only have the opportunity to return home once a year during the festive season because of expensive airfares,” he said.

Alice Lau Kiong Yieng (DAP-Lanang) suggested the commission set ceiling prices for air tickets so as not to burden consumers.

The Mavcom (Amendment) Bill 2017 among other things seeks to empower the commission to impose a financial penalty, and to impose charges on passengers at airports for regulatory services.

The bill proposes a maximum regulatory charge of RM1 on passengers at each airport to ensure the economic and safety aspects of passengers are met by airlines.

The amendment to the Bill also enables the Commission to issue guidelines, circulars, directives, practice notes or notices to facilitate the implementation of good practices in a shorter time frame.

The sitting continues today. - FMT