RM600 Labuan-KK air fare shock

Labuan: MASwings advised air travellers to opt for online bookings through their authorised agents to ensure they are not overcharged on air fares.The airline's CEO Aminuddin Zakaria was shocked when told of a RM600 Labuan-KK fare for a short half an hour journey by a member of the Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce (LCCC), Datuk Robert Seah, during a meeting between the airlines executives and LCCC led by Datuk Wong Kii Yii.

Also present at the meeting of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of MASwings Shauqi Ahmad. Elaborating on air-fares Aminuddin said the fares were fixed by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) with a ceiling price for every sector.

"We cannot overcharge unless there are some unscrupulous agents manipulating the fares on peak seasons and the matter needs to be investigated," he said.

Giving an example, he said the fare for the Labuan-KK route was fixed at RM198 (base fare RM137 fuel surcharge RM50 and airport tax plus GST RM11.66). MASwings rate is cheaper by RM16 as its fixed rate is RM182, inclusive of all the three items.

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Wong said the Chamber appreciated Aminuddin's explanation though it was puzzling.

He said the fare between KK and Tawau for a journey of about an hour was RM90 one way and RM180 return and was a one-hour flight compared to Labuan-KK of half an hour. "Why is it so very expensive?"

He said he was not pinning blame on MASwings which was trying to be helpful."

We feel the Transport Ministry needs to pay special attention to Labuan's plight.

I will help write a letter to the FT Minister for assistance," he said.

On other matters, Aminuddin reiterated that the airline under the Rural Air Services Agreement was committed to connecting people through domestic flights reaching into the interior of Sarawak and Sabah.

He said the airline operated at a loss and was subsidised by the government but there is a limit to the subsidy.

He said MASwings operated with 10 ATRs and 6 Ottors.

The ATRs were under pressure from heavy short-haul usages and needed overhaul and other maintenance works to keep it fit and safe.

All these involved costs.

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On the present reductions of flights on certain routes in Sabah and Sarawak due to reduced aircraft as some were under prolonged maintenance, Aminuddin said the aircraft could not be replaced with chartered ones due to the high expenses of about RM10 million per month.

"By next year the ATRs would have refurbished cabins, improved interior and exterior," he said. - Sohan Das

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