KOTA KINABALU: Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin has slammed national carrier Malaysia Airlines for what he called an illogical airfare for a one-way flight from Kuala Lumpur to the state capital.
The Sabah Umno chief was shocked to find out it cost a whopping RM4499.32 just to fly back from KL to here when he was trying to make an online booking yesterday.
“I wanted to fly back to KK today but (because of the pricing) I have yet to make the booking,” he told FMT.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the price.
“I know airlines worldwide made a loss due to Covid-19, including Virgin Air, Ravneir Air and British Airlines (among others) but it doesn’t make sense for MAS to charge as such just for a one-way flight.”
Bung took to Twitter to air his grouses and included a screenshot of the price check he made online.
Bung said such exorbitant ticket prices will undermine tourism in Sabah, more so with the reopening of domestic tourism in the state recently.
“At the same time, due to the current economic downturn, the ordinary people will surely be burdened by the airfares, particularly students who intend to go back to Sabah,” he said.
On July 3, Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob had urged airlines to return ticket prices to their original rates before the enforcement of the movement control order.
Ismail said the transport ministry and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) have been tasked with holding talks with the airlines to restore the airfares back to normal.
He said this was decided during a special ministerial meeting that coordinated the MCO, adding they were aware of high domestic airfares between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.
Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong had also said that the government had told three airlines to reduce their fares and increase flight frequencies following the relaxation of social distancing rules for air travel under the recovery movement control order.
Wee said his ministry had met with MAS, AirAsia and Malindo Air to discuss the issue on June 11. - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.