By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 6: Airbus, a leading global aerospace company, is keen to collaborate with Sarawak in setting up AirBorneo and provide support in areas such as training and digitalisation of operations, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
In a Facebook post, he said this in a press conference following a working visit to the ATR headquarters and the Airbus Campus in Toulouse, France, on Monday (May 5).
Elaborating on the visit, he said it was part of efforts to bolster Sarawak’s air transport sector and prepare for AirBorneo’s launch.
He said he, along with delegates, were given an in-depth briefing on aircraft design, operations, and potential aviation technology collaborations.
The visit also included a tour of ATR’s Final Assembly Centre, allowing the delegation to witness firsthand the manufacturing process of high-performance commercial aircraft suitable for domestic and regional medium-haul routes.
The Sarawak delegation then proceeded to the Airbus Campus in Blagnac and participated in discussions with Airbus International president Wouter van Wersch at the Airspace Customer Showroom Agoahub.
These sessions opened avenues for professional exchanges and explored potential strategic collaborations in technology, training, and maintenance.
Afterwards, the Premier and his delegation toured Airbus’ customer exhibition space and observed the final assembly operations of the A350, one of the world’s most advanced commercial aircraft.
This visit is seen as a critical step in ensuring that AirBorneo, which is expected to commence full operations by next year, meets international standards while strengthening Sarawak’s regional air transport network.
This is particularly vital for domestic and regional routes across Southeast Asia, including Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; Sarawak Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin; Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, and senior government officials were also present. — DayakDaily
