Airfares set to soar for CNY

 

Those returning to Sabah or Sarawak have been advised to plan their trips early to enjoy the best air ticket prices.

PETALING JAYA: Air travellers are expected to pay more for flights during the Chinese New Year season.

The festival falls on Jan 22 and 23.

Checks by FMT showed that one-way economy airfares from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu by AirAsia have increased from between RM133 and RM397 for those travelling from Jan 8 to Jan 14, to between RM133 and RM631 for flights from Jan 15 to Jan 21.

One-way economy airfares from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching have increased from between RM106 and RM296 for Jan 8 to 14, to between RM155 and RM436 for flights from Jan 15 to Jan 21.

Prices for Malaysia Airlines flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu have also increased from between RM322 and RM498 for Jan 8 to 14, to between RM322 and RM740 from Jan 15 to 21.

One-way economy airfares from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching have gone up from between RM106 and RM1,857 for Jan 8 to 14, to between RM200 and RM2,204 for Jan 15 to 21.

A Malaysia Airlines spokesman told FMT the company, like many other airlines globally, practises dynamic pricing and encourages price-sensitive travellers to plan their trips in advance to enjoy the best ticket prices.

“Our load factor has been encouraging, standing at more than 65% for both sectors (KL-Kota Kinabalu and KL-Kuching), with the majority of passengers booking their tickets during earlier promotions,” the spokesman said.

“We recently concluded year-end deals, which offer up to 35% discount on the sectors for travel until Aug 31, 2023.”

Malaysians working in Singapore are also expected to pay more for their flights, with economy airfares between the republic and Kuala Lumpur costing from US$77 to US$749 for travel between Jan 15 and 21, up from between US$66 and US$281 previously, according to The Straits Times.

For express bus tickets, checks by FMT on Easybook.com found that prices from the Klang Valley to Johor were unchanged, varying from RM30 to RM110.

Tickets for travel from the Klang Valley to Penang are also available for between RM30 and RM55.

Ashfar Ali, president of the Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association, said there will be no increase in express bus fares for the festive season as these tickets are controlled items. - FMT