FOREIGNERS stranded here because of lockdowns forced by the Covid-19 pandemic are facing new challenges trying to return homes – flight shortages and rocketing ticket prices.

As Putrajaya allows foreigners to return to their home countries, on the condition that they have a valid air ticket with confirmed seats, these foreigners said ticket prices have tripled in some cases.

Those who have been stranded in Malaysia since the government closed its borders on March 18 said tickets to China, Vietnam and Nepal have shot up to between RM7,000 and RM18,000 per person, if they can get hold of a ticket.

Before the pandemic, a ticket from Kuala Lumpur to China cost about RM2,000, which can be further reduced to about RM1,000 with discounts. But now, tickets are hard to come by even if money is not an issue.

Chinese citizen Zhang said she has to return to China during the movement control-order period as an elderly relative was critically ill but could not purchase tickets.

“I had to call the Chinese embassy for help. They responded very quickly and a Chinese airline contacted me and made arrangements for my return,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Zhang said the one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Shanghai cost her RM7,000.

“There was only a single flight for the whole week, and the fare was RM7,400 (about CN¥12,000).”

Another Chinese citizen, Wang, also managed to return to China, paid RM9,000 for a one-way flight to Shanghai from Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association secretary-general Cindy Seow said China currently limits all inbound international flights to only one per week, and since the returning aircraft will be empty, the costs involved are naturally higher.

Seow said many had sought the help of trade associations, including non-Chinese citizens, such as the Vietnamese.

Vietnam previously chartered flights back to the country but now the ticket costs have spiked.

Seow said there are many Chinese citizens working or studying in Malaysia and most contacted their embassy to arrange for flights to leave Malaysia.

“Those who were retrenched by their employers or students who are stuck in Malaysia all had wanted to return to their countries.

“It’s not just China, there’s also those from Vietnam and Nepal. But since Vietnam’s borders are shut, Vietnamese who are stuck here have no means to return,” she said.

Using China as an example, Seow said, with only one flight carrying about 200 passengers back to the country each week, there is now a waiting line of more than 4,000 people.

“With only about 200 people returning each week, people need to wait up to September to get on a flight, and that’s a conservative estimate,” she said.

Seow said local travel agencies cannot arrange such flights for Chinese citizens as it must be done by the embassy and airlines, or via chartered flights.

Meanwhile, a source said chartered flights cost even more, with a one-way ticket going for about RM16,000 to RM18,000.

“Whether it is bound for China, Vietnam or Nepal, many are waiting to return to their countries,” the source said.

The Chinese embassy in Malaysia issued a notice to citizens on its website to be mindful when purchasing air tickets to avoid cases of fraud, including by approaching airlines directly to purchase their tickets.

Chinese airlines currently operating include China Eastern, China Southern, Xiamen Air and Air China. – July 17, 2020.