MAS May Increase Fuel Surcharge
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will adjust fuel surcharge if oil prices continue to soar as crude oil price skyrocketed towards US$127 per barrel, said executive director and chief financial officer Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin.
“If oil prices continue to increase, then, yes (the fuel surcharge will be increased),” he told a briefing yesterday when asked on the possibility of MAS increasing its fuel surcharge.
Other airlines that recently increased fuel surcharge are British Airways, Thai Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Singapore Airlines.
Meanwhile, MAS sees steady incremental income from its “Everyday Low Fares” (ELF) campaign to sell the three million to four million unsold seats on its domestic and Asean routes every year, said Azmil.
“We are going to launch the campaign in different phases. ELF is going to stay for good,” he added.
On claims that the national carrier was “copying” low-cost carrier AirAsia’s business model, Azmil said MAS was still a full service carrier and would only offer the unsold seats.
“Our only aim is to generate some profits to recover the fuel cost,” he said, adding that the competitive fares would be offered as a permanent feature in its pricing strategy.
He said since tickets for travel under ELF would only be issued online, the airline would also be able to reduce operation costs.
Source: Star Publications (M) Bhd
Tags: airlines, Malaysia Airlines, price rising, surcharge