KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans are hoping that the average two-way domestic airfare between the state and Peninsular Malaysia can work out to about RM400.
Fluctuating prices that breached RM2,000 during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri season are now feared to return as many Sabahans plan trips home to celebrate Kaamatan on May 30-31.
As of yesterday, a random check on Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu return air tickets between May 29 and June 1 showed they hovered between RM500 and RM1,500.
The cheapest was RM313 for two late evening flights on May 29 but the prices kept fluctuating.
Meanwhile, flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu with one stopover in another major airport such as Penang, Kuching, Johor Baru and Labuan cost RM900 to around RM1,700.
Domestic return flights from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau and Sandakan were around RM200.
Sabah leaders have been calling for a ceiling price on the flights between Kuala Lumpur and its major towns – Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau.
The issue of high prices has been raised in Parliament with state political leaders urging the Transport Ministry to step in to establish a price control mechanism and not allow airlines to raise prices, especially during peak demand.
They have lobbied for a price cap and suggested that a round trip between the national capital and Sabah’s major towns be capped at around RM400.
State leaders also suggested increasing flights between Kota Kinabalu and the east coast towns of Sandakan and Tawau to bring down the airfares.
Meanwhile, some Sabahan students in the peninsula are aborting plans to fly home for the annual Harvest Festival.
Aldianie Alim, 23, from Ranau, said the two-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu cost around RM600 at the end of May.
“For some, this is considered a small amount but for my family, the money can be used to buy a week or two weeks’ worth of food,” said the Social Communications degree student at Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris, Perak.
The ninth of 12 siblings felt that a one-week trip back home with this kind of airfare was not worth it.
During the one-week term break, she wants to focus on her studies and university projects and will still connect with her parents and siblings through video calls.
Irene Matius, 23, who also hails from Ranau, felt that the airfare was too high for such a short trip home.
“I would rather take another time to return home when the ticket prices are much lower.
“I cannot think of my own needs now that I am learning to be an independent adult,” said the Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Mass Communications (Reporting) student.
However, Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president Datuk Ladislaus Maluda said the airfares for a Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu return trip were quite reasonable as it was the festive and holiday season.
He has yet to receive any complaints, compared to the Hari Raya season where ticket prices increased by two or threefold.
The issue of soaring airfares started just before the Raya season when tickets went up as high as RM2,000 and more, depending on the date and time of travel.
There was also a claim that there were tickets that went as high as RM3,138 one-way from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau sometime in mid-April, to which Transport Minister Anthony Loke had asked those who bought this ticket to meet him.
Investigations later revealed that this ticket was sold by another airline app on behalf of that company and the tickets were meant for business class.
