By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 17: AirBorneo is targeting to introduce scheduled services to Kota Kinabalu and Jakarta early next year, as more aircraft are expected to join the airline’s fleet, says Sarawak Minister for Transport, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
In a press release, he said this following his visit to the Kuching International Airport (KIA) today to inspect AirBorneo’s operational readiness ahead of the airline’s first scheduled services beyond East Malaysia.
“As additional aircraft are inducted into the fleet, AirBorneo will be in a better position to progressively expand its route network. We are targeting to commence services to Kota Kinabalu and Jakarta early next year, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals and operational readiness,” he said.
He added that the planned fleet expansion will enable AirBorneo to introduce more domestic and international destinations, increase flight frequencies, and provide the travelling public with greater convenience and more travel choices.
During the visit, Lee toured AirBorneo’s newly arrived Boeing 737-800 aircraft and was briefed by the airline’s management on its operational preparations, including flight operations, passenger handling, engineering support, safety procedures, and ground services.
As he was briefed, Lee was informed that AirBorneo had successfully conducted full-scale wet run exercises on July 16, with another one scheduled for July 18, using two aircraft under simulated commercial operating conditions.
The exercises involved passengers on board and a full cabin crew, with participants invited to provide feedback via QR codes to refine services and ensure operational readiness ahead of the transition to AirBorneo’s scheduled operations.
On the launch of AirBorneo’s ticketing office at KIA, he described it as another important milestone as AirBorneo enters the final stage of preparations ahead of its inaugural commercial operations and reflects the airline’s commitment to providing convenient and accessible services to the travelling public.
“The launch of AirBorneo’s first scheduled service beyond East Malaysia is much more than the introduction of a new route. It represents another historic milestone in Sarawak’s transportation sector and reflects the Sarawak government’s long-term vision of strengthening air connectivity, improving accessibility, and providing the travelling public with more choices,” he said.
He noted that following the inaugural Kuching–Kuala Lumpur–Kuching service on July 20, AirBorneo is scheduled to commence its inaugural Kuching–Singapore service on July 22, marking the airline’s first international scheduled route.
“The launch of both the Kuala Lumpur and Singapore services within such a short period demonstrates AirBorneo’s operational readiness and its commitment to progressively expand its network.
“It also reflects Sarawak’s growing position as an aviation gateway in the region and our commitment to enhancing connectivity for the benefit of the people and the economy,” he said. — DayakDaily
