TRAVELLERS planning to make a trip to Malaysia during the Chinese New Year period in 2024 can expect to fork out up to three times more for airfare and bus tickets.
More than three months before the festive occasion on Feb 10 and 11, many from Singapore who plan to celebrate in Malaysia have already snapped up tickets to escape paying inflated prices caused by the expected spike in demand.
One of them is Cheyenne Lim, who bought return flight tickets to her parents’ hometown of Penang for three people on AirAsia for S$273 (RM955.50) each.
Lim, 23, who works in the food and beverage industry, said: “If we don’t buy early, the fares may double nearer to the Chinese New Year dates.”
She bought the tickets for her Feb 10 to 18 trip in March 2023, almost immediately after they were made available on the airline’s website. As of Wednesday, the same route costs S$526 (RM1,841).
In 2022, Lim took a domestic flight to Penang from Johor after hiring a car to cross the border, as round-trip airfares from Singapore cost more than S$500 (RM1,750) each two months before Chinese New Year.
Checks by The Straits Times found that a one-way economy class airfare to Kuala Lumpur is between S$81 and S$552 (RM283.50 and RM1,932) for travel from Feb 4 to 10, an increase from S$70 to S$214 (RM245 to RM749) the week before.
A spokesperson for budget airline Jetstar Asia said the demand for air tickets to Malaysia has tripled for the festive period compared with non-peak periods.
“Chinese New Year is always a popular travel period... Our Singapore-to-Kuala Lumpur service is one of our busiest routes, particularly at this time when so many people want to visit family and friends,” added the spokesperson.
A trip from Singapore to Ipoh on Scoot would cost between S$183 and S$513 (RM640.50 and RM1,795.50) in the week leading up to Chinese New Year, compared with a fare of between S$89 (RM311.50) and S$214 from Jan 28 to Feb 3.
Without disclosing figures, Scoot said it “continues to see strong demand” for flights to Malaysia leading up to the holiday.Bus companies have also raised ticket prices, citing reasons such as a shortage of bus drivers and the expected traffic jams at the Causeway.
Checks showed that bus tickets cost between S$33 and S$188 (RM115.50 and RM658) for a one-way ride to Kuala Lumpur from Feb 4 to 10, an increase from the S$30 to S$138 (RM105 to RM483) the week before.
A spokesperson for bus operator Sri Maju Group said 60% of its tickets to different destinations in Malaysia for Feb 8 to 10 have sold out since they went on sale on Oct 10.
Commuters can expect to pay up to S$190 (RM665) for a one-way trip, compared with the usual non-peak prices of S$40 to S$55 (RM140 to RM192.50).
“The bus company plans to increase its number of trips, but will have to take into account a lack of bus drivers,” added the spokesperson.
Malaysian bus operator Causeway Link expects a 70% increase in commuters during the Chinese New Year period.
Sonny Cosme, its public relations and marketing specialist, said customers can expect a 30% increase from its regular price of S$35 (RM122.50) – for a one-way ride to Kuala Lumpur – when ticket sales start three months before the period.
The price increase is to account for longer travel time due to traffic jams at the Causeway and higher payments to its bus drivers.
“This price adjustment also accommodates the higher remuneration provided to bus captains due to the prevailing shortage of bus drivers in the market,” added Cosme.
To cope with the foreseeable increase in demand, both Sri Maju and Causeway Link will be increasing the number of trips made during the festive period. — The Straits Times/ANN
