KUCHING: A new airline owned by Sabah government is set to begin operations next year, and is expected to bring more tourists to Sarawak.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said that when the new airline starts operating, Sarawak is likely to become one of its destinations.
“If Sabah is happy to have its own airline, I’m happy for them too. The more airlines, the better. This new airline will definitely consider Sarawak as one of its destinations. With more airlines coming to Sarawak, there will be competition among them,” Abdul Karim said in a press conference after officiating at the launch of the S-MM2H MOAS at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.
Abdul Karim said that airline competition benefits consumers by offering more choices.
“Sarawak wants its own airline mainly because during busy seasons like Hari Raya, Gawai, and Chinese New Year, airlines tend to keep prices high despite appeals to lower them due to increased demand. So, Sarawak aims to establish its own airline and set a maximum price. Once a price ceiling is set, other airlines will need to follow suit. Our focus isn’t just on making profits,” he said.
When asked about suggestions for Sarawak and Sabah to collaborate and create a single airline together, Abdul Karim responded positively, saying, “If such collaboration benefits both states, why not? What matters is that the people of Sabah and Sarawak benefit from this airline.”
Earlier reports indicated that Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd (SAASB) chairman Kenny Chua announced Sabah’s airline plans for next year. He hoped to lease at least three aircrafts, which might not necessarily be limited to Airbus or Boeing models, by the end of this year.
