A MASwings aircraft is prepped for take off in this file photo.
KUCHING: MASwings will revert to its previous airfare rates for foreigners travelling to Mulu and Bario, said Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
Lee revealed that he had also talked to MASwings chief executive officer Aminuddin
Zakaria regarding the new airfare, which he said was “irrational” and would have serious repercussions on the state’s tourism industry.
Business travellers and those in the oil and gas industry will also be greatly affected, he stressed.
“Last night, I received a message from Aminuddin that the company will revert to the previous airfare rate for foreigners travelling to Mulu and Bario from Kuching and Miri and they would issue a press release this Friday,” Lee told a press conference today after visiting the Hydrogen Integrated Refueling Plant here.
MASwings had proposed increasing the fare for foreigners by up to three fold.
Under the new rate for foreigners, which is supposed to come into effect on Nov 1, a Miri-Bario return ticket would cost RM1,037, Miri-Marudi would cost RM738, Miri-Lawas would cost RM922, Miri-Labuan would cost RM908, while Kuching to Mulu would cost RM1,386.
MASwings currently mounts two Miri-Bario flights daily, with a one-way ticket costing RM118.
Lee pointed out that since the new airfare was released, he has brought up the matter with federal Minister of Transport Anthony Loke and the Malaysian Aviation Commission.