26 January 2009

MAS maintains long haul fuel surcharges

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will slash the fuel surcharge by up to 60 percent for travel within South East Asia, starting with the Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok route.

The fuel surcharge on the Thai route will be reduced this week from US$75 to US$27, while reduction for other Asean routes is due to be announced shortly.

An MAS spokesman defended the decision to keep the fuel surcharges on long-haul international flights, claiming that although the crude oil price had dropped to around US$40 per barrel compared to a high of US$147 last July, Ã¢â¬Åâœthe jet fuel price had not dropped significantlyÃ¢â¬~.

MAS recently removed the fuel surcharge for domestic travel.

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Your Comments (2)

We all know why!

We all know the real reason why most of the airlines are keeping the surcharges so high, so they will not have to pay commission on the base fare. Why the ACCC has not brought them all to task is beyond me. The airlines will never fill the seats trying to sell flights at $132 + over $1,000 in taxes. They are going to have to wake up and start realising that the holiday is over and they are going to have to actually work to get bums on seats, first time for a few years.

By gary elliott, Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Missed Opportunity

MAS Airlines should take a look at the competition on routes from the UK. Mas charges the highest additional charges forcing tour operators to book thier clients on other carriers. MAS business class fares remain uncompetitive against its competitors,

By barry coleman, Tuesday, January 27, 2009