Offer additional flights, cheap fares during festive seasons - Wee

SHAH ALAM - Additional capacity and flights during peak seasons is an effective measure to overcome congestion and lessen fare prices, says former transport minister Wee Ka Siong.

He said the move was highly awaited by the people, primarily those who used flights to return to their hometowns to celebrate festive seasons with their families and loved ones.

"Several months ago, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) had met to discuss with airlines in the country regarding additional flights at midnight and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) was recommended to continue the operation. The matter had been agreed upon in its principles.

"Soon, we will celebrate the Chinese New Year, followed by Eid. We hope that Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Batik Air and the new local airline MyAirline could realise the suggestion as well as offer cheaper rates to passengers during the festive seasons," he said through a post on his Facebook on Tuesday.

At the same time, Wee expressed his confidence that the matter could be implemented especially with the newly built Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre Complex (KLATCC).

He said the new KLATCC could improve the air traffic around Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and KLIA 2 to 108 movements per hour using three runways simultaneously compared to only 84 moves per hour using two runways previously.

"On May 2022, when the borders were recently opened, there were many airlines facing difficulties in having additional flights because many aircraft were grounded during the implementation of the movement control order due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Because of it, they had to go through the relatively long maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) process before it was operable for the sake of public safety.

"At the time, there were many planes that had gone through the MRO process and airlines surely could afford to have flights at midnight with a lower fare rate," he said.

Wee was confident that the Transport Ministry would handle the matter under the unity government.

"Hopefully, airlines could offer additional flights at midnight with a lower rate, especially for the festive season that is arriving soon," he said.