[UPDATED] Like craving KFC but going to McDonald’s: Loke hits back in airfares spat

KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Anthony Loke retaliated against his predecessor’s scrutiny of increasing airfares during the festive season by asking why the latter failed to educate the public about properly checking prices online.

In a press conference today, Loke requested Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong to refrain from confusing the public, as he is aware of airlines’ approach mechanism to determine flight fares.

“The former minister (Wee) must know that Malaysia Airlines (MAG) has its own app. If you wish to check MAG tickets, why (go to) the AirAsia app? It’s like wanting to buy KFC, but going to McDonald’s,” he quipped.

“If Wee had made steps to check other apps, the answer would be very different. 

“I hope he refrains from making statements that could confuse the public. Maybe many people do not know how airline companies set their prices, but I am confident that Wee knows the mechanism used by companies to determine their prices,” he said.

Loke added that he is not disputing Wee’s claims, but reiterates that the former transport minister should educate the public on smart price checking as a responsible leader, instead of trying to “score brownie points”.

The Seremban MP explained the price for the MAG ticket Wee shared online was taken from the AirAsia Super App, one of many third-party platforms that sell the company’s tickets.

As such, he added that Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) group chief executive Izham Ismail told him that there is a dispute between the company and AirAsia, where the former had filed an injunction against the latter from selling its tickets online.

Loke also said that MAB has a dynamic pricing system for its flight tickets, and almost 80% of one-way economy lite tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau were sold at a price range between RM209 and RM841 for the upcoming Aidilfitri holiday.

The remaining 12% of economy lite seats were priced between RM905 to RM1,226, while only 2% were sold at their maximum price of RM1,398.

Economy lite is a flight option that only allows 7kg of hand luggage, while check-in luggage and ticket changes are not prohibited.

Loke clarified that the company has a capacity of 6,804 return flights offered, where almost 73% of the seats have been sold.

In actuality, Loke said flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau are fully booked for the period of April 19 to April 25, and the vacancies are for flights from Tawau to Kuala Lumpur.

Similarly, Loke said that AirAsia had sold about 19,000 of its 22,464 tickets under the Midnight flight programme, which was launched on March 7.

The programme offers 124 extra flights at fixed rates from April 19 to 21, and also from April 28 to 30.

Flights from the peninsula to Sarawak are priced at RM199, and RM249 to Sabah.

In light of the festive season, Loke said that MAB had optimised all 48 Boeing 737-800 MAX and eight A330 Widebody Aircraft planes to send individuals back to their hometowns.

He added that the Aviation Commission has approved 527 additional flight services for Aidilfitri.

A total of 184 additional flights are from MAB, while the rest are from Batik Air (173), AirAsia (130), Firefly, (18), MASWings (12), and MYAirline (10).

Previously, Wee had expressed his shock and disappointment that a return economy ticket between Kuala Lumpur and Tawau cost RM3,138, noting that Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted and aircraft do not need to undergo the three-month maintenance, repair, and operations process to be deemed safe for flying.  

Subsequently, Loke clarified that the price Wee was referring to was for a business-class ticket. Even then, the price offered by MAB for business class travel is only RM2,863.40, less than the figure quoted by Wee.

Netizens also took the opportunity to school Wee for using the AirAsia Super App to research the price of MAB’s flight tickets, instead of using the company’s own platform.– The Vibes, April 17, 2023