MAS plans airfare hike

MAS plans airfare hike

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) said
yesterday it has proposed to the government a raise in
international airfares of three percent in view of rising oil
prices.

MAS executive chairman Tajudin Ramli said the proposal was
submitted to the government after the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) recommended a hike in air fares worldwide
following the steady increase in jet-fuel prices over the past
several years.

Tajudin was attending the launch of MAS' 50th anniversary logo
officiated by Transport Minister Ling Liong Sik.

Ling had said on Wednesday that it was up to MAS to decide
whether it wanted to raise airfares as long as domestic fares
were unaffected.

Jet fuel cost, which comprised slightly more than 10 percent
of MAS' total expenditure last year, had risen to 14.6 percent in
the first six months of the year due to the price increase,
Tajudin said.