MATTA - PSC And Airport Charges Are Two Different Issues

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 August 2016: Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) President Datuk Hamzah Rahmat wish to point out that passenger service charge (PSC) and airport charges are two distinct different issues that need to be dealt with separately.

Hamzah said “The PSC, also commonly known as airport tax to the general consumer and public, is the amount required to pay to the airport authority by the passenger and airlines are tasked to collect along with the fares and their other services.

“Therefore, any change in airport tax charge to the passenger will have no impact on the airlines’ operating costs including its profit or loss as the revenue is not theirs at all.”
“However, airlines will be affected by any increase on airport charges charged by MAHB for aircraft landing, parking charges etc and it is up to the airlines to deal with MAHB on these charges without having to drag PSC and consumers into the equation.”

“Airlines can either operate from KLIA offering premium service or no-frills at KLIA2. There should be a clear distinction for the airlines to choose and the choice is theirs. KLIA2 is a “low cost terminal” with a very distinct difference in facilities. Passengers have to navigate through the shops and restaurants for about half a kilometer before reaching the check in area.

Thereafter they have to walk very far and through narrow passages to reach boarding gates. If you have travelled through the KLIA2 terminal then you will know how it is like, and if you have not, you have no right to comments or compare”

“Just like passengers pay lower fares to travel on budget airlines, they should also pay lower airport tax for using low cost terminals. Airlines should not clamor for higher PSC at KLIA2 unless they have something to gain but this would come at the expense of passengers.”

“The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism should keep a watchful eye to ensure that the differential in the passenger service charge at KLIA and KLIA2 is not removed. Any comparison should be on an apple to apple basis. Other airports have precedent.”

“MATTA’s stand is unequivocal. Consumers - travelling public, should only pay according to the service and facilities provided and not otherwise”, concluded Hamzah.