He said this move will also address the issue of soaring prices on routes between the peninsula, and Sabah and Sarawak during peak periods.

“CAAM has committed to extending all airport operating hours a week before and after Chinese New Year as well as during other festive seasons, next year.

“By extending airport operating hours, airlines can increase their flight frequencies, particularly late-night flights,” he said after a visit to the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre Complex here.

Airlines, he said, would have no excuse not to increase the frequency of flights and lower airfares.

He said this move was in line with a promise he made in his general election campaign in Sibu, Sarawak last month.

Loke previously said days before the polls that the best way to lower airfares for Sabah and Sarawak is by increasing late-night flights.

He said this could only be done if airport operators, airlines, and the government worked together.

Loke, who is DAP secretary-general, added that airlines had a limited capacity and set flight schedules, making it difficult to increase flights.