Malawian Airlines refuses to cut air ticket costs
Malawian Airlines has ruled out cutting the cost of air tickets despite Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) decision to reduce the cost of jet fuel in the country.
Mera has reduced the jet fuel to K687.08 which Malawian Airways say it is insignificant to trigger the cut in air tickets.
Malawian Airways public relations officer Joseph Josiah said although Mera has reduced the cost of jet fuel, fuel cost in Malawi remains the highest in the Sadc region.
“We thank Mera for the good gesture. For the past three years we have been in business, we have been asking the government to cut the fuel costs. However, this fuel reduction is insignificant,” he said.
He said Malawian Airline competitors, including South African Airways, enjoy low cost jet fuel in their respective countries of operation.
“Actually, the cost of jet fuel in countries such as South Africa is half the cost in Malawi so our competitors have a very better edge over us,” he said.
Malawian Airlines came under spotlight in parliament recently when some members of parliament alleged the government is not gaining from the partnership with the Ethiopian Airways.
Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe however dismissed this, saying the Malawian Airlines board is transparent and the company wants to invest more by buying more aircrafts and other equipment to make the airliner more attractive.
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