KOTA KINABALU – Prices for return tickets between Kuala Lumpur and selected Sabah cities during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri season are hovering just below the RM1,000 mark, a check on two local carriers showed.
This is seen as a reduction in prices after Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin lambasted airlines for being “bloodsuckers”, claiming that it could cost up to RM3,600 for a one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah on economy class.
Today’s checks by The Vibes on prices of return tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Tawau or Sandakan during the Raya week show that each are priced between RM800 and RM992.
The one-way tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan also saw a reduction from RM600 each to RM369.
For example, it costs less than RM850 for a return flight if one is travelling to and from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu during the April 30-May 8 period, while travellers should expect to fork out RM868-RM993 for Sandakan, and RM992-RM1,400 for Tawau.
The issue of pricey airfares during the Raya season has caused much public anger, leading to calls for an investigation by the Transport Ministry and Malaysian Aviation Commission.
Earlier, The Vibes reported that Sabahans were planning to skip spending Raya with their families in their home state as they could not afford the flights. – The Vibes, April 17, 2022