KOTA KINABALU: According to the West Coast Consumer Association of Sabah, many individuals may not be able to make it back to Sabah for Hari Raya Aidilfitri due to the high airfares during festive seasons. President David Chan expressed his disappointment with the price hike in domestic flights, particularly during festive periods or school breaks.
Feedback received by the association revealed a significant surge in flight ticket prices every festive season, with domestic flights between Kota Kinabalu and Tawau costing nearly RM500 for a one-way ticket. “We all know that during Hari Raya, many people are eager to return to their hometowns to celebrate Aidilfitri with their families,” Chan stated in a press release on Thursday (March 7).
He also mentioned that students studying in Peninsular Malaysia are affected by the high ticket prices, which are beyond their means. Chan hoped that the airlines would consider offering more affordable flight tickets, especially for students wanting to return home for Hari Raya.
Former Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin raised concerns about airfare prices between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak in the Dewan Rakyat on March 5. He highlighted the excessive costs of air tickets during school holidays or festive periods, making it challenging for Sabahans and Sarawakians to travel home across the South China Sea.
