A SABAH assemblyman has joined Kinabatangan MP Bung Mohktar Radin in alleging that AirAsia overcharged its passengers.

Matunggong assemblyman Jelani Hamdan today said with such rates, AirAsia should think of dropping its “low-cost carrier” label.

“They are charging Sabahans cutthroat prices,” he said.

The assemblyman provided screenshots of bookings for a one-way flight on the airline from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur for today, tomorrow, Monday and December 3 to back his claims.

 He said most of the November “low-fares” were over RM1,000, while the December fare was over RM500.

The rates came during the start of the school holidays, when passenger volume usually spikes.

Yesterday, Bung defended his charge against AirAsia, saying that one of his constituents was charged RM1,780 for one-way trip form Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu.

Sandakan is more that 300km from Kota Kinabalu, and therefore, further than KLIA.

“Apart from AirAsia, the fare of Malindo Air is also expensive, and goes higher depending on demand. However, that airline provides almost full (in-flight) service,” he said.

Jelani said it was high-time Sabah and Sarawak established their own airline or open the Kota Kinabalu route to other airlines.

Earlier, AirAsia chief executive officer Aireen Omar denied Bung Mokhtar’s claim, saying the highest fare should be only RM1,180. – November 25, 2017.