THE government has set a maximum price of RM499 for flights to Sabah and Sarawak within three days before the Gawai and Kaamatan celebrations, following a sudden increase in ticket prices, which were reported to have reached up to RM1,200 for one-way travel.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the move was implemented through government subsidies to airlines to reduce the burden on the people during the festive season.
According to him, the situation this year also saw the celebrations overlapping with other festive seasons, causing demand for flights to increase sharply.
“There are indeed reports of flight ticket prices increasing by up to RM1,200 one-way due to overlapping with the festive season. That is why the government has set a maximum price of RM499 for flights to Sabah and Sarawak within three days before Gawai and Kaamatan,” he said today.
The RM499 flight tickets will only be available for three days before the Kaamatan festival (which begins on May 30) and three days before the Gawai festival (which begins on June 1).
Loke said the price control only involved trips to Sabah and Sarawak because the return period for passengers is different and is not concentrated on a specific period.
He said the subsidy was borne entirely by the government and not the airline.
“For example, if the actual ticket price reaches RM1,000 but the maximum price is set at RM499, then the government has to bear the remaining RM501 to the airline,” he explained.
He added that the increase in operating costs, including jet fuel prices, also affects airfares during peak seasons.
Therefore, he said, the subsidy allocation under the government needs to be increased to ensure that the people can still enjoy airfares at reasonable rates during the festive season. - May 26, 2026
