By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Mach 13: Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin says the State government might be interested in ARJ21-700 aircraft from China in the future.
According to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) news report, Lee added research and studies on the aircraft would be examined by experts as Sarawak aims to have flights throughout the region.
“We will study this matter further before the Sarawak government officially takes over MASwings later.
“Sarawak is planning to have flight routes throughout the entire region and this aircraft from COMAC is very suitable and this will be examined by us first before we make a decision,” he said at a press conference after witnessing the arrival of a ARJ21-700 aircraft at Kuching International Airport (LTAK) today.
Lee disclosed that the ARJ21-700 aircraft can accommodate 78 to 97 passengers in one flight.
“Although the capacity of this aircraft is small, it is a good thing because we can make more flights compared to the current aircraft, which can only make two flights in a day.”
He added such aircraft also allow passengers to have pleasant and more comfortable flights because of the larger space in the plane.
“The arrival of the ARJ21-700 aircraft at LTAK gives greater meaning in matters of cooperation, innovation and opportunities for Sarawak to explore the aviation industry, especially with COMAC in the future,” Lee said.
Among those present were Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching His Excellency Xing Wei Ping, Sarawak Deputy Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS) Dato Alice Jawan Empaling, Economic Planning Unit Director Datu Lester Mathew, National Aerospace and Defense Industry (NADI) Senior Vice President Datuk Suffian Etrada, COMAC Deputy President (Marketing) Liu Yan and HEE Group Chief Executive Officer Sherman Hooi Foat. — DayakDaily
