KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28th- Domestic flight passengers are encouraged to buy flight tickets as early as possible to get cheap ticket prices, especially during the festive season.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said this is because of the cost of flight tickets – the price of air fares – is determined by the forces of supply and demand.

He added that his Ministry (MOT) has held discussions with the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) and domestic airline companies to deal with the problem of high ticket prices during peak seasons.

"As a result of the discussions, the airlines have agreed to increase flight capacity from time to time depending on the demand.

"Normally, airlines will start selling tickets as early as nine months before the flight date.

"When the ticket price is checked a week or two before the travel date, the ticket price is usually already on the high side. This is because the ticket price in the cheap ‘basket’ is already sold out and only the ticket price in the high ‘basket’ remains.

"On average, the price of a one-way ticket in the highest ‘basket’ is up to 10 percent of the total tickets sold during the peak seasons.

"Also, on average, the one-way ticket price in the lower ‘basket’ at RM599 and below is up to 60 percent of the total tickets sold during the peak seasons," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was answering the questions of several Members of Parliament regarding the government's approach in dealing with the issue of high airfares, especially during the festive seasons.

He added that MOT through MAVCOM will continue to monitor flight ticket prices for all domestic flight routes including routes between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

Therefore, he said the Cabinet had - on December 13th last year - agreed to implement a maximum price of RM599 for a one-way economy flight ticket from the Peninsular to Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

"The implementation period of this initiative is on the three travelling days before the date of Chinese New Year celebration, Hari Raya Aidilfitiri, Kaamatan Festival, Gawai Festival and Christmas Day 2024," he said.