Airline to add another 26 domestic flights to its existing schedule during voting week, between May 8 and May 10, 2018

By LYDIA NATHAN

Various airlines have announced several measures including additional flight capacity, fixed fares and waiver of fees to enable Malaysians to vote on polling day next month.

Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd is the latest carrier to join the foray, saying it will add another 26 domestic flights to its existing schedule during voting week, between May 8 and May 10, 2018.

“It will be valid for all purchases made online and over the counter at all Malindo ticketing offices and through travel agencies in Malaysia,” the airline said in a statement yesterday.

Malindo is allocating 10 flights with total capacity of 1,620 seats for Peninsular Malaysia, including to Penang and Kota Baru, while 16 flights or 2,592 seats have been added to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

“We have mounted additional frequency to fly Malaysians home to vote. There will be updates available on our Facebook page (Malindo Air),” Malindo told The Malaysian Reserve.

The airline urged people to keep a lookout on its social media pages as these will be updated with new information closer to polling day, May 9.

Last week, the company announced waivers on its flights, saying changes were permitted for all tickets including those with restrictions on date changes.

Meanwhile, AirAsia Bhd had set special fixed fares from May 8 until May 10, 2018. Any destination within Peninsular Malaysia including to the East Coast will cost RM99, while flights to Sarawak and Sabah will be RM129 and RM199 respectively.

The prices are fixed for a one-way journey. AirAsia group CEO Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes said unsold seats for the day before and after polling day will be frozen and sold at the lower fares.

In addition, the airline announced waivers for flights booked on polling day.

“We are going to deploy AirAsia X 330 at times it’s not flying. Revenue team working overtime to get this done. Say thanks to them,” Fernandes said on his Twitter account last week.

Following the surge in demand for several routes in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) said the airline will provide an additional 40 flights and an upgrade of 10 flights to wide-body services to take place between May 5 and May 10, 2018.

“The airline will continue to monitor the local market trend and consider mounting more flights to more cities to ensure the supply matches the demand,” it said last week.

MAB, together with its sister airlines Firefly and MASwings, will also be waiving flight change fees for Malaysians with existing bookings with the airlines to allow Malaysians to “balik kampung” and vote.

The waiver is applicable for all types of tickets for travel dates between May 8 and May 10 whether inbound or outbound.

Apart from the airlines, e-hailing giant Grab said it will also offer discounts on rides on polling day.