SEPANG (Dec 3) – The Malaysian government has announced an extension of the capped airfare subsidy during festive seasons, increasing the coverage from three days to four days. This initiative, starting from Christmas 2024, ensures that airfares between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah or Sarawak remain capped at RM499.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook revealed the extended subsidy during the launch of AirAsia’s fixed fare initiative for Chinese New Year at AirAsia RedQ.
“We are expanding this subsidy to cover four days (before festive dates) to accommodate more travelers. The capped airfare will provide convenience, affordability, and competitiveness for passengers. We hope this will benefit more Malaysians, especially those traveling home to celebrate with their loved ones,” said Loke.
This measure aligns with the government’s commitment to ease the financial burden of festive travel. The extended subsidy will cost the government an additional RM20 million, bringing the total allocation for airfare subsidies and the FlySiswa programme to RM48 million.
According to Loke, the average subsidy per passenger seat is RM406, and approximately RM12.5 million has already been spent this year under the programme.
“The spike in airfare prices during festive periods, driven by the dynamic pricing mechanism, often burdens passengers. The government’s intervention ensures fair pricing for everyone,” he added.
At the same event, AirAsia unveiled its fixed fare initiative for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, complementing the government’s efforts to make festive travel more accessible.
The announcement underscores the government’s dedication to addressing airfare challenges while enhancing connectivity between the Peninsula and East Malaysia during peak travel seasons.
