SEPANG: Good news for those planning to return home to Sabah, Sarawak or Labuan – one-way air tickets from the peninsula on Dec 22, 23 and Christmas eve will be capped at RM599 beginning today.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said this would apply to AirAsia, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air flights, with prices to be reflected on their websites.
“This, however, does not mean that all tickets will be priced at RM599. There will still be tickets that cost less. The price cap only affects tickets that would have cost more than RM599,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
Loke said the price cap would apply for all flights on the specified days, regardless of the time.
He said the move would see the government subsidising one-way economy air tickets to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan priced at more than RM599.
“The price cap, however, does not include taxes or fees,” he said.
Loke said the Cabinet agreed to this at its meeting on Dec 13, adding that the initiative was aimed at alleviating travel cost woes of those wanting to fly back to their hometowns for Christmas.
Loke said the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) had facilitated an additional 114 flights for the Christmas period.
He said the initiative would be continued in 2024 for Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Kaamatan and Gawai celebrations, as well as Christmas.
There will also be a price cap of RM599 for flights three days prior to these celebrations, which will go on sale from 12.01am on Jan 1.
“There will no longer be the issue of tickets priced at RM2,000 or more. Even if there are, those are for business class tickets. We are subsidising only economy class tickets,” he added.
Loke said anyone who comes across flight tickets to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan priced at more than RM599 for travel on the three-day period could lodge a report with Mavcom.
Among the terms and conditions are that a change in flight times or dates are not permitted. Tickets are also not transferable or refundable.
