A million cheap tickets going for a song
KUALA LUMPUR: It’s the price war that’s not price war. Just two rival airlines having a bit of fun by slashing their fares at the same time,
Between them Air Asia and Malaysian Airlines will be offering more than one million tickets with Air Asia’s lead-in special at RM1 for some domestic flights.
MAS has been shadowing the spectacular growth of AirAsia’s low cost operations with increasing concern. The national carrier has this week been assessing the implications of AirAsia’s US$2.3 billion order for 10 Airbus A330-300s with five options to fly long haul international routes.
The cost-efficient A330 aircraft will allow AirAsia passengers to fly to destinations in the UK, China, Australia and elsewhere in some of the most modern aircraft in the skies
AirAsia is offering low-price seats for international destinations with one-way flights from Kuala Lumpur to Macau from RM61 and Chiang Mai from RM41. Flights to holiday destinations like Phuket will cost RM21 or to Hanoi from RM51.
MAS’ cheapest flight is for a one-way ticket to Penang, Johor Baru or Kuantan. The sales period for AirAsia is until April 29 for travel between October 1 and March 29 next year.
The MAS sales period for domestic tickets is until April 28 for travel between May 7 and May 22, and, June 14 and June 30 with some conditions.
Both AirAsia and MAS are offering the cheap fares for online bookings only and prices do not include airport tax and other surcharges.
In another twist to the fast changing aviation environment in Malaysia, MAS will take-over the country’s rural air services from budget carrier Fly Asian Xpress.
Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy said the national carrier’s low cost unit Firefly which operates a Fokker-50 aircraft will replace Fly Asian Xpress Sdn Bhd in the eastern Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo Island.
“The government is responsible for the rural air services, so we will (now) appoint Malaysia Airlines to manage it through Firefly,” Chan was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.
Ian Jarrett
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