LOCAL airline operators should revert to charging fares at the normal rate as flights are now allowed to operate at full capacity, said senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said there have been complaints of airlines charging high rates for domestic flights despite being operating at full capacity.

He added that the government has asked Malaysian Aviation Commission to discuss the matter with the carriers.

“We have recently heard talks of high ticket prices.

“We understand that the ticket rates were higher initially because they could only operate at a reduced capacity with social distancing rules. That meant flights only had a 66% capacity.

“Now they are allowed to operate at full capacity. No social distancing required during flights.

“Hence, the government feels that the ticket rates should return to how it was before the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said during the daily briefing on the recovery movement control order (RMCO) today.

On June 11, Ismail said all public transport services, including flights and express buses, as well as e-hailing services and private vehicles, are allowed to operate at full capacity while abiding by the standard operating procedures (SOP) under the RMCO.

Local airlines are only allowed to operate domestic flights as international borders are still closed. – July 3, 2020.