Extra 291 domestic flights approved for CNY rush

SEPANG: An increase of 291 domestic flights have been approved to meet demand during Chinese New Year, says the Transport Minister.

Anthony Loke said the Malaysia Aviation Commission (Mavcom) had approved the flights from Jan 18-31 in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak to ensure people get a chance to return to their hometowns.

Loke thanked the domestic airlines for supporting the government’s intention to increase flights during the festive period.

He also called on airlines to extend this initiative during Hari Raya, Gawai and other festivals.

“The issue of high ticket prices due to dynamic pricing has been a long-standing grouse, particularly for those travelling to and from Sabah and Sarawak,” he said when launching Batik Air’s new destinations to Tokyo, Sapporo and Osaka in Japan along with extra flights to Sabah and Sarawak for CNY.

Loke said Batik Air’s increase of 35 flights from Jan 18 to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, with fairly competitive fixed prices of RM299 and RM399 respectively, would provide more affordable travel this festive season.

The airline also added 42 extra flights from Subang Skypark to Johor Baru, Penang, Kota Baru and Langkawi during the same time, offering a fixed price of RM259 one-way all-inclusive, he said.

Loke added the increase in demand for flights this year was expected as the aviation industry transitioned back to normalcy as pre-Covid times.

Also present at the event were Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Takahashi Katsuhiko, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Khairul Adib Abdul Rahman, Malaysia Aviation Commission (Mavcom) executive chairman Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kassim, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, Lion Group strategy director Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy and Batik Air CEO Captain Mushafiz Mustafa Bakri.