KUCHING, Sept 28: Sarawak is set to gradually increase the frequency of flights from key destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Johor, Kota Bahru, Labuan and Singapore from Oct 1 onwards.
Minister for Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) had in a meeting on Sept 24 agreed to increase the incoming flight frequency to Sarawak from the current 22 flights to 87 flights weekly.
The airliners will run more flights from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Johor, Kota Bahru, Labuan and Singapore to main destinations in Sarawak, such as Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang.
This decision came as the southern districts will join the rest of Sarawak in Phase 3 of National Recovery Plan (NRP) on Oct 1 with more restrictions eased for fully vaccinated individuals and the resumption of economic activities which had been suspended by the Covid-19 pandemic, including the tourism sector.
“The decision was made after taking into consideration various factors including the gradual opening of the State tourism sector, the high flight fares, the demand for travelling, quarantine exemption for fully vaccinated people to travel within Malaysia as well as the reopening of schools and universities in October,” Lee explained in a statement today.
The Ministry will be calling a meeting today with all the airlines and aviation authorities such as Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM), Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) as well as the Civil Defence Force (APM), Resident Offices and Federal Transport Ministry to look into the details on the new flight schedules.
“This is to ensure the smooth implementation of the new flight schedules.
“With the gradual increase of the frequency of flights to Sarawak, we are expecting the increase in passengers and movement of people within the State,” he added.
Despite that, Lee reminded all passengers to comply with the latest standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by National Security Council (MKN), Ministry of Health (MOH) and SDMC especially on procedures to enter Sarawak to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Note that police permit remain a mandatory requirement to travel across districts in Sarawak and to enter the State from Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah. — DayakDaily
