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| Image: Free Malaysia Today |
AirAsia has maintained that it has offered affordable ticket prices to its customers amid public complaints that the low-cost carrier was among the airlines that have jacked up airfares for the coming festive period.
AirAsia airlines chief commercial officer Tan Mai Yin said more than 50% of the return tickets for flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu and Kuching they had sold for the month of April and May had cost less than RM500.
“So when it comes to prices, it is still very competitive but also affordable,” she told reporters after an event here today.
“We are committed to providing affordable travel for everyone, but it is very normal when it comes to dynamic pricing for airlines where we always encourage forward planning and for travellers to book as early as possible.”
At least four Sabah ministers, including chief minister Hajiji Noor, had commented on the price surge and urged airlines to lower their airfares to enable the people to return home to their loved ones for Hari Raya (Eid Al-Fitri).
The Sarawak transport ministry has also written to airlines requesting them to offer more reasonably priced flight tickets for the coming festive period. read more
Yesterday, transport minister Wee Ka Siong told the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) and airlines to address the price increase for flights to Sabah and Sarawak.
“I chaired a meeting yesterday to discuss this issue and I have asked Mavcom and the airlines to conduct an immediate and detailed investigation regarding the price hike for flights to East Malaysia this Raya season,” he said in a statement.
Asked whether AirAsia was looking into lowering its airfares, Tan said the carrier will look into managing the demand and adding more capacity where possible.
“It is still a challenge when it comes to the airline because operating costs have increased, especially since all the planes had gone into hibernation for the past two years.
“We need to make sure that proper checks and maintenance have been done on every aircraft before we bring them out,” she said, adding this process will take some time.
(1 US$ = MYR 4.2335)
Source: MSN News