SEPANG: The government has announced an extension to the current airfare subsidy, increasing the capped period from three days to four days during festive seasons. This new measure, set to commence from Christmas this year, aims to keep airfares at a maximum of RM499 for flights between Peninsular Malaysia and the regions of Sabah or Sarawak.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook emphasized that the initiative is designed to accommodate the expected increase in travel over weekends, thus providing more competitive and affordable fares for passengers. The subsidy is intended to enhance convenience and benefit more Malaysians by allowing extended travel days covered under the capped airfare initiative.

Minister Loke also highlighted that the extension of the subsidy would lead to an estimated additional government expenditure of RM20 million. The Ministry of Finance has allocated RM48 million to the Ministry of Transport to support this initiative and the FlySiswa program
me, showcasing the government’s commitment to making air travel more accessible during peak travel times.

The subsidy for each passenger seat averages RM406, with the government having spent nearly RM12.5 million this year on these initiatives. This intervention aims to address the significant fare increases typically caused by dynamic pricing mechanisms during festive seasons, ensuring that air travel remains affordable for all Malaysians.