Air ticket prices shoot up following Russia-Ukraine conflict

PUTRAJAYA- The Ukraine-Russia war which has been going on since February has given an impact on oil prices worldwide, thus affecting the prices of domestic and international flight tickets.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said this was experienced by the whole world as the dynamic pricing mechanism was used to determine the price of airline tickets.

“Previously, the flight ticket to China costs a few thousands but now it is impossible to get such a price..now it costs tens of thousands.

“This was not intentionally done, but it was due to the increase of oil prices.

“Secondly, we look at the demand. In Malaysia, because of the government and upon the Prime Minister’s request, we asked the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) to monitor the ticket price between April 29 and May 8,” he said.

He said this when met at the Aidilfitri 2022 open house hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Cabinet ministers, today.

Wee said the price control of flight tickets could be implemented on early ticket sales, but it could not be controlled if they were bought at the last minute.

He also asked consumers who claimed to have bought domestic flight tickets amounting to RM2,000 and RM3,000 to show the date the tickets were purchased, either within two weeks before the flight or at the last minute.

At the same time, he reminded consumers who were planning to go back home for the Chinese New Year celebration to start purchasing flight tickets which were on sale to get it at cheaper prices.

Commenting on complaints on the last minute changes in the date and time of flights, Wee asked consumers to lodge a complaint especially when the changes were unnecessarily made so that Mavcom could take immediate action.