By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 15: AirAsia will resume direct flights connecting Kota Kinabalu (KK) with Bintulu and Sibu beginning in November, restoring air connectivity between Sabah and Sarawak.
According to a Facebook post by Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Dato Seri Tiong King Sing, the KK-Bintulu route will resume on Nov 1, with three flights weekly, while the KK-Sibu route will resume on Nov 2, with four flights weekly.
Both routes will be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft, with tickets available for sale since Sept 2.
The resumption followed several meetings and recent discussions with AirAsia on strengthening direct air connectivity between Sabah and Sarawak, particularly for passengers travelling to and from Bintulu and Sibu.
The direct services are expected to benefit passengers travelling for work, education, business, tourism, medical needs, and family visits, while reducing the need to transit through other airports, which could result in longer travelling times and additional costs.
“I raised these concerns and urged the airline to seriously consider restoring both routes. I welcome their positive response and decision to resume these services,” Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP and Dudong assemblyman, said in the post.
“Stronger connectivity between Sabah and Sarawak is important not only for the convenience of travellers but also supports economic activity, domestic tourism, and fosters closer people-to-people ties between the two states,” he added.
The KK-Bintulu route is expected to provide greater convenience for residents, workers, and the business community as Bintulu continues to develop as an industrial and economic centre.
Meanwhile, the KK-Sibu route will serve passengers not just from Sibu but also the wider central region of Sarawak.
Tiong also called on AirAsia to keep services stable, reliable, and sustainable, while maintaining reasonable airfares as far as market conditions allow.
“This is important to ease the financial burden on travellers and prevent high ticket prices from becoming a long-term strain on passengers.
“Increasing flight options must bring real benefits to the people, while growth in passenger traffic can create a win-win situation for both the airline and passengers,” he added.
Tiong described the resumption of the two routes as a step towards strengthening Sabah-Sarawak connectivity, supporting domestic tourism and economic activity, and fostering closer ties between communities in both States.
He added that the services would also provide greater convenience for passengers travelling from other parts of the country to Kota Kinabalu, Bintulu and Sibu. — DayakDaily
