Malaysia Airlines ticket sales rise by 100 per cent
NURUL NABILA AHMAD HALIMY
SHAH ALAM - Under the relaxed rules, the reopening of borders has enabled the aviation industry to operate almost entirely with the Malaysia Airlines recording a 100 per cent increase in ticket sales.
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail said since the country’s borders reopened on April 1 and in conjunction with the festive season, MAG saw a significant increase in ticket sales.
"We have seen a positive response from tourists who could not wait to continue travelling.
"Ticket sales are now more than 100 per cent as compared to before.
“Among the destinations that recorded more than 90 per cent flight load was Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Kota Bharu,” he told Sinar Premium.
He added that Malaysia Airlines was gradually increasing its frequency and network to reach more than 70 per cent of its pre-Covid capacity for domestic and international flights by the end of this year.
“Currently, our capacity is 45 per cent of the pre-Covid-19 level in April with a significant increase in ticket sales following the reopening of the Malaysian borders.
“In fact, MAB passengers have also increased by 57 per cent recording positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) which was RM433 million, last year,” he said.
On the challenge of the price of fuel, Izham said he was of the view that although the airline industry was recovering with the transition to the endemic phase, business continuity for most airline companies depended on the current market situation and the demand by passengers.
“Not only that airline companies have to compete with the capacity and mutual competition, but it also has to face the challenge of high fuel prices following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"Malaysia Airlines is not exempted from the impact of Covid-19 which forced it to reduce the capacity down to 96 per cent during the Movement Control Order (MCO) between March and May 2020 with a high monthly 'burn rate' due to no positive income stream, ”he said.
