PETALING JAYA: Consumer groups have asked the government to consider adding flight subsidies for public university students into the federal budget.
They added that airlines operators should play their role in providing reasonably priced domestic flight tickets.
Fomca chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah said including the subsidy into the federal budget will be helpful for students.
“The issue of expensive flight tickets between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak has been going on for some time.
“It’s good that the government is coming up with this initiative and it should consider including this into the budget.
“Airlines should also play their part by preparing reasonable flight ticket prices for everyone.
“Providing affordable prices also helps to highlight the airlines’ brand as well as increasing their appeal to customers in the long run,” he said, adding that the Malaysian Aviation Commission too should be proactive in balancing both the needs of consumers and airline operators.
“Consumers should have protection but we also need to consider the operators who deserve incentives as well,” he added.
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) education officer NV Subbarow also agreed that flight subsidies should be added into the federal budget.
“It’s better to give such subsidies to students for this purpose.
“Expensive domestic flight ticket prices have been around for almost a decade and many students are unable to return to their hometowns. Airline operators need to play a role here in tackling this as well,” he said.
University students welcomed the domestic flight subsidy, adding that airlines should offer reasonable airfares.
Engineering student Dale Manson Anak Aldrin, 27, said the subsidy would allow him to travel back to his hometown in Sri Aman, Sarawak, more often.
“I usually travel back twice a year for Christmas and Gawai celebrations, but I couldn’t make it back for Gawai this year as the ticket prices went up as high as RM1,000. At least with the subsidy, I can consider flying home more often while also worrying less about flight ticket prices,” said Dale, who studies at a public university in Penang.
On July 12, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said more than 56,000 public university students are set to benefit under the government’s subsidy initiative for them to fly between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak via a credit fund to purchase their tickets.