PETALING JAYA: The increased number of flights to Sarawak from November will help to address the issue of high airfares, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       "The main obstacle currently to reducing airfares is the low frequency of flights to a number of domestic destinations in Malaysia," said the Transport Minister.

       "This should be addressed soon after Sarawak increased the frequency of flights from 89 to 223 per week from Nov 1, particularly with the state elections to be announced soon," he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Nov 3).

       Following concerns about high airfares, Dr Wee said he had a meeting with Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Malindo on Wednesday to find a way forward.

       He said that ideally, a situation where airlines are allowed to decide on their flight frequencies based on market forces and operational considerations is preferred.

       "This would ensure they can provide the best prices to consumers. We don't want to unduly burden travellers, many of whom need to fly between Sabah and Sarawak for work, study, or reunite with their families after a long time due to Covid-19," he said.

       Dr Wee noted there is a need to find a balance between the best fares for consumers and also maintain a healthy and sustainable aviation industry.

       "If the government intervenes in pricing too much, it could lead to a price war where the airlines race to the bottom to outdo each other," he said.

       For now, he called on travellers to secure best prices for air tickets by booking them two weeks in advance or more.

       He said he had also instructed the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) and the ministry's Aviation Division to work with the airlines to find ways to address the pressure from increased supply chain costs, including logistics services and fuel.