MAB: Fee hike unprecedented, will hurt aviation industry

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) spokesperson has dubbed the 1,000% increase in travel-related fees as an unprecedented move by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

Even if the rising costs of controlling airspace and the development of resources and infrastructure by the DCA were taken into account, airlines should not be made to bear the cost of previous airspace utilisation, a spokesperson for the airline told FMT.

“We were caught off-guard by this monumental and prohibitive increase in fees after 42 years of stagnation.

“Current airspace users cannot be charged with fees which are related to previous airspace utilisation,” said the spokesperson.

In a briefing by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to airlines, it was revealed that Air Navigation Flight Charges will go up from 5 sen/nautical mile to 50 sen for light aircraft. For bigger aircraft, it will increase from 10 to 25 sen/nautical mile i.e. RM1 to RM2.50.

Bigger planes such as the A380 will have to pay RM3/nautical mile from 30 sen/nautical mile. Yearly Air Operating Certificates have also been raised from between RM30,000-RM80,000, compared with only RM400 previously.

“We would have welcomed a dialogue or engagement session with air space users on this plan and an explanation for the basis of the prices set.

“The hike will certainly have an impact, not just on us, but all airlines and eventually, end consumers.

“This will also make foreign carriers avoid Malaysian airspace, which will in turn have a knock on and adverse impact on the industry, and for international and Malaysian travellers.”

The new hike will take effect from April 15.

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