By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 28: The launch of Sarawak’s own airline is becoming increasingly urgent in light of the recent temporary flight reductions by Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Firefly, and Amal until December, which not only frustrate travellers but also have a significant impact on Sarawak’s tourism sector.
Amal is the Haj and Umrah pilgrimage arm of Malaysia Airlines.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan expressed deep concern, emphasising that air travel is the only viable means for both domestic and international visitors to access Sarawak.
“Flight disruptions are among the least tolerable inconveniences for passengers. Whether due to technical reasons or other factors, such disruptions damage the airlines’ image, reputation, and the confidence of the aviation community,” he said in a statement today.
His remarks were in response to reports that MAS, Firefly, and Amal will reduce their flight frequency until December to address issues that have resulted in a recent spate of disruptions such as engine failures, emergency landings, flight diversions, aircraft maintenance, supply chain disruptions, and technical problems with aircraft manufacturers.
Snowdan highlighted that Sarawak’s tourism industry heavily relies on consistent and timely flights from MAS and AirAsia.
Any reduction in routes or flight cancellations, he added, directly translates to fewer inbound tourists, whether for business or leisure.
“This will significantly hamper our marketing efforts. Although other airlines offer connections through KLIA, the reduction in direct flights to Sarawak presents a considerable inconvenience.
“The services industry, including hotels, transportation, leisure activities, travel agencies, and tourism programmes, will also feel the impact,” he said.
If these issues persist, Snowdan warned that Sarawak’s reputation as a favoured tourist destination could suffer long-term damage.
Recent reports have highlighted at least four incidents in August alone. For instance, a MAS flight from London to Kuala Lumpur earlier this month was diverted to Doha, Qatar, due to a technical issue during cruising. One passenger was reportedly stranded in Doha for over 60 hours.
Other incidents include a MAS flight en route to Jeddah on Aug 4 that returned to Kuala Lumpur, a flight to Shanghai on Aug 20 that turned back due to a suspected cabin pressure issue, and a Melbourne-Kuala Lumpur flight on Aug 19 that was diverted to Alice Springs Airport in Australia due to a technical issue.
In response, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), which owns the three airlines, announced on Aug 24 that it would “temporarily reduce its network” until December while addressing the ongoing challenges.
MAG’s Group Managing Director, Captain Izham Ismail, stated that the group is actively working to resolve supply chain constraints, manpower challenges, and other external factors as part of the broader normalisation of global aviation operations post-pandemic. — DayakDaily
