By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 8: The establishment of AirBorneo was never merely about changing the name of an airline, but a strategic long-term initiative to strengthen Sarawak’s aviation connectivity, enhance economic competitiveness and gradually give Sarawakians greater control over the State’s air transport services, said Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap.
Yap said he fully supported the position taken by Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in defending the Sarawak government’s decision to acquire MASwings and transform it into AirBorneo.
He said the move must be viewed from a broader perspective, as it was aimed at building a stronger aviation ecosystem that would serve Sarawak’s economic and social development needs.
“Some have argued that Sarawak should have started a brand-new airline from scratch instead of acquiring MASwings. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, such arguments fail to appreciate the realities of the aviation industry,” he said in a statement today.
He explained that acquiring MASwings allowed Sarawak to inherit critical operational assets, including an existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC), established regional routes, experienced pilots, engineers, cabin crew, maintenance systems, airport slots and operational infrastructure.
“Had Sarawak chosen to establish a completely new airline, it could have taken years before operations commenced, leaving rural communities and regional connectivity in uncertainty,” he said.
Yap added that it was misleading to suggest that creating a new airline would have eliminated all operational challenges, as every airline, whether newly established or acquired, would face technical, commercial and operational issues, particularly during a major transition.
Commenting on recent flight disruptions involving AirBorneo, Yap acknowledged that the situation had caused frustration among passengers but said the challenges should be understood within the context of a transition process and wider global aviation issues.
He pointed out that airlines worldwide were currently facing challenges including aircraft maintenance capacity constraints, spare parts availability issues and fleet shortages.
“Rather than using these temporary difficulties to declare the acquisition a failure, we should allow AirBorneo the time and space to implement its fleet renewal plans, improve operational reliability and deliver on its long-term vision,” he said.
Yap stressed that constructive criticism was important in a healthy democracy but said it should be balanced, fair and based on a full understanding of the facts.
He said discussions on AirBorneo should not overlook the strategic advantages gained through the acquisition of MASwings, particularly in ensuring continuity of air services while laying the foundation for a Sarawak-owned airline.
“The question is not whether challenges exist—they do. The real question is which approach best ensured uninterrupted air services while laying the foundation for a stronger, Sarawak-owned airline,” he said.
Yap expressed confidence that under the leadership of the Premier of Sarawak and the State government, AirBorneo would continue to improve through fleet modernisation, better operational efficiency and enhanced service quality.
“As Sarawakians, we should stand behind this important State initiative. Building a successful airline is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, commitment and unity of purpose.
“Let us work together to ensure that AirBorneo succeeds for the benefit of all Sarawakians,” he said. — DayakDaily
