International flights to certain destinations are about to get more expensive as the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) has announced revised rates for Passenger Service Charges(PSC). Known as the airport tax, the new rates will take effect in the First Regulatory Period (RP1) from 1 June 2024 until 31 December 2026. This decision was apparently made to aid the aviation industry’s post-pandemic recovery.
To start with, the PSC for domestic flights will remain unchanged at RM11 for each flight. For international flights, however, it will cost more for those travelling to ASEAN countries. Before this, MAVCOM had two separate fees for international flights depending on whether they were flying to ASEAN nations or beyond, but now the fees have been consolidated, there is no discrepancy regardless of the destination.
Flights from KLIA 1 are currently imposed a RM35 airport tax for ASEAN flights and RM73 for other international destinations, but starting from 1 June, it will be a flat fee of RM73. Meanwhile, KLIA 2 international flights will now be taxed RM50, up from RM35 for ASEAN routes and down from RM73 for beyond ASEAN flights.
Moreover, the commission is introducing an airport tax for transfers, meaning that flyers will have to pay a PSC for any flight that transfers to Malaysian airports. Domestic transfer will cost RM7 while transfers from international flights will be charged RM42 at KLIA 1 and RM29 at KLIA 2.
On the other hand, Johor’s Senai airport will be getting different airport tax rates. The PSC for domestic flights will go up from RM11 to RM16 while domestic transfers will be imposed RM10. Its rates for international flights will be identical to KLIA 2, costing travellers RM50 for departures from Senai and RM29 for transfers.
While the revised rates are set to take effect from 1 June, MAVCOM clarified that tickets purchased before this date will not be subjected to the new rates, even if the date of travel is after the start date.
(Source: MAVCOM)
