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.