The government has rolled out support measures for its aviation sector as airlines come under pressure from higher costs and disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East. The announcement, reported by Bloomberg, comes as authorities try to keep airline operations steady while easing short-term cash flow strain across the industry.
Under the plan, the Ministry of Transport said airlines will get up to a 60-day extension on payments for navigation fees and related charges. Aircraft parking fees will be waived during the period, while charges for passenger boarding bridges and check-in counters will be deferred for two months.
On the passenger side, the government has set aside 5 million ringgit (about US$1.3 million) for flight ticket rebates. The programme runs from May to June and is expected to benefit around 100,000 Malaysians travelling between Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the federal territory of Labuan.
In the background, airlines are already feeling the pressure. AirAsia X posted a net loss of RM154.9 million for the first quarter, pointing to higher jet fuel costs in late March as a key drag on earnings.
