By Amanda L
KUCHING, June 15: Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah called for fair treatment of AirBorneo, questioning why the State-owned carrier has been reprimanded over flight disruptions while larger airlines facing similar issues appear to escape comparable scrutiny.
Speaking to reporters after the Samarahan Food & Cultural Festival 2026 (SFCF) press conference today, Abdul Karim said AirBorneo should be given time to grow, noting that the airline only began operations earlier this year and is still in the early stages of its development.
He said expectations that AirBorneo would immediately perform on par with established international carriers were unrealistic.
“Any business, including the aviation business, will always have a starting point. Our starting point was just early this year. We started with only three small aircraft, not even jetliners,” he said.
At the same time, Abdul Karim took issue with what he perceived as a disproportionate response towards AirBorneo over complaints and service disruptions.
Referring to a show-cause letter issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), he questioned whether similar action had been taken against larger airlines that had also experienced flight cancellations and schedule reductions.
“Be fair to all the airlines. Don’t just focus on AirBorneo. When I see AirBorneo being reprimanded but not other airlines, people will naturally ask questions,” he said.
He noted that flight cancellations and operational challenges are not unique to AirBorneo and can affect airlines across the industry.
“Other airlines have also had flights cancelled and schedules reduced. If you want to reprimand one airline, then be fair and apply the same standards to everyone,” he stressed.
The minister reiterated that AirBorneo remains a young airline and should be allowed time to establish itself and expand its network.
“Be fair. Let us grow. Give us time,” he added.
On June 10, AirBorneo chief executive officer Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin has apologised to passengers affected by recent flight delays and cancellations across Sarawak and Sabah.
He cited maintenance requirements and technical rectification works as the cause of the disruptions, which led to several aircraft being unavailable at the same time. — DayakDaily
