By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 3: AirBorneo has sealed an agreement with aircraft manufacturer ATR to acquire eight new turboprop aircraft, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029.
In a TVS news, the order comprises five ATR 72-600 aircraft and three ATR 42-600 aircraft.
In a joint statement issued today, AirBorneo and ATR said the agreement, finalised at the end of 2025, also includes options to purchase up to four additional aircraft.
This provides flexibility for future expansion while ensuring the continued provision of Rural Air Services (RAS).
The deal also opens the door to potential regional expansion within Eastern ASEAN, covering the Brunei–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines growth corridor.
“This represents a significant milestone in AirBorneo’s transformation into a Sarawak-owned airline and in its assumption of responsibility for the RAS network, which is a vital public service connecting remote and underserved communities in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan,” the statement said.
In addition, the aircraft order supports AirBorneo’s long-term fleet renewal strategy following the Sarawak government’s acquisition of MASwings Sdn Bhd in 2025 and the subsequent rebranding of the airline as AirBorneo.
AirBorneo currently operates eight ATR 72-500 aircraft inherited from MASwings. — DayakDaily
