By Amanda L
KUCHING, June 15: There is still no confirmation that AirBorneo will commence direct flights to Bangkok despite reports that Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority has allocated operating slots for the Sarawak-owned airline.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the reported development was encouraging but stressed that international route expansion involves multiple approvals before flights can begin.
“That is welcoming news. Of course, we hope to see AirBorneo improve and become bigger and bigger, to a level whereby it might be on par with the other major airlines one day,” he told reporters after the Samarahan Food & Cultural Festival (SFCF) 2026 press conference today.
Abdul Karim said AirBorneo is still in the early stages of its development and should not be expected to rapidly expand its international network.
“Any business, including the aviation business, will always have a starting point. Our starting point was just early this year. We started with only three small aircraft, not even jetliners,” he said.
He explained that opening routes to destinations such as Bangkok, Hong Kong and Jakarta requires approvals from airport operators and aviation authorities in the respective countries.
“To fly to Bangkok, Hong Kong or Jakarta, you need a lot of approvals. Once we get that, that’s how we improve. That’s how we grow,” he said.
While welcoming reports of the slot allocation, Abdul Karim stopped short of confirming whether direct AirBorneo flights to Bangkok would be launched.
He added that the public should allow time for the airline to gradually expand its operations and route network.
Thai media recently reported that Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority had allocated operating slots for AirBorneo flights to Bangkok during the upcoming winter scheduling season.
However, no official announcement has been made by AirBorneo or the Sarawak government regarding the commencement of direct services between Sarawak and the Thai capital.
The reported slot allocation is one of several steps required before an international route can be launched, with regulatory clearances and operational arrangements still needed before any flights can begin. — DayakDaily
