AirAsia Bhd CEO Aireen Omar says there's no way Bung paid RM2,000 for a one-way trip from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan as he has claimed. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 — AirAsia has lashed back at Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Moktar Radin today, denying his claims that the low-cost carrier charged exorbitantly high fares for a domestic route and other “hidden charges.”

AirAsia Bhd Chief Executive Officer Aireen Omar said that there was no way Bung paid RM2,000 for a one-way trip from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan as he had claimed, as the price ceiling is RM1,180.

“The claim by the MP that a one-way flight on that route costs RM2,000 is completely untrue. The average one-way fare for AirAsia flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan is RM213.

“Even during peak season, when AirAsia operates flights with 100 per cent load factor, our highest fare was about RM1,180, which still remain lowest in the market,” she said in a statement.

"There are also no ‘hidden charges’ as alleged by the MP. AirAsia guests have the option of choosing how they want to fly and what products they wish to pay for, and all fees and charges are clearly stated on our website and mobile app,” Aireen added.

On the lack of adequate connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan, Aireen said AirAsia was the first airline to connect Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan with direct flights on April 7, 2003, with four flights in a week.

“We remain committed to the route, increasing flight frequency to 18 times weekly. To date, we have flown over 5 million guests to and from Sandakan. We have invested substantially in marketing the route, by providing millions of free and promotional seats.

“These promotional fares, which are sold based on a first come, first served basis have been tremendously enjoyed by Sabahans,” she said.

She also invited Bung to review the differences in facilities and services between airport terminals in Malaysia and look into customer opinions and feedback.

“The rakyat in Sandakan are being forced to pay the same airport tax as travellers who use KLIA for far inferior services,” Aireen said, referring to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

She said that AirAsia has continued to strengthen connectivity to their East Malaysia hubs and have launched five new routes into East Malaysia this year — Kuching-Langkawi, Kuching-Pontianak, Bintulu-Singapore, Kuching-Shenzhen and Tawau-Johor Bahru, as well as increased flight frequencies on several key East Malaysia routes.

Bung had during a Parliament sitting accused AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines of providing inadequate services to Sabah.

The Umno backbencher had claimed AirAsia focused too much on “hidden costs” instead of operating as a low-cost carrier with the welfare of the low income group at heart and turned away passengers for being 10 minutes late.

Bung also criticised Malaysia Airlines, which operates MASwings, for limiting the service’s flights between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan – asking that they base flights on passenger’s needs and not the “company’s whim.” 

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/airasia-bung-lying-about-expensive-flights-to-sandakan