ID :
210058
Wed, 09/28/2011 - 16:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/210058
The shortlink copeid
MAKE MASWINGS A REGIONAL AIRLINE, URGES MALAYSIA'S SARAWAK STATE
KUCHING (Sarawak, Malaysia), Sept 28 (Bernama) -- The East Malaysia state of Sarawak wants the federal government to explore the possibility of turning MASwings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS), into a regional airline not only for the rural air services in Sarawak and Sabah but also within the BIMP-EAGA region and beyond following the collaboration
between MAS and AirAsia.
State Tourism and Heritage Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg said an
alternative regional connectivity would fill the vacuum left by MAS unit
Firefly, which is expected to cancel all its current flights to Sarawak with the proposed air rationalisation exercise.
"The Sarawak government is ready, through my ministry, to try its best to position the tools that can enhance the tourism industry's growth because we do not want to be left behind," he said at the MAS/MASwings Hari Raya open house here on Wednesday.
Also present were MAS Sarawak area manager Mohd Asif Abd Talib and MASwings managing director Capt Mohd Nawawi Awang.
Abang Johari said MASwings, whose rural air operations in Sabah and Sarawak were being subsidised by the government until its contract ceased in 2017, could take up the challenge to become a competitor to other airlines.
"Apart from the East Asean Growth Area of Brunei, Indonesian, Malaysia and the Philippines, it could also look at possible routes connnecting Sarawak to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Bali and even Australia," he said.
Currently, MASwings operates with a fleet of 10 ATR aircraft and four Twin Otters.
between MAS and AirAsia.
State Tourism and Heritage Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg said an
alternative regional connectivity would fill the vacuum left by MAS unit
Firefly, which is expected to cancel all its current flights to Sarawak with the proposed air rationalisation exercise.
"The Sarawak government is ready, through my ministry, to try its best to position the tools that can enhance the tourism industry's growth because we do not want to be left behind," he said at the MAS/MASwings Hari Raya open house here on Wednesday.
Also present were MAS Sarawak area manager Mohd Asif Abd Talib and MASwings managing director Capt Mohd Nawawi Awang.
Abang Johari said MASwings, whose rural air operations in Sabah and Sarawak were being subsidised by the government until its contract ceased in 2017, could take up the challenge to become a competitor to other airlines.
"Apart from the East Asean Growth Area of Brunei, Indonesian, Malaysia and the Philippines, it could also look at possible routes connnecting Sarawak to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Bali and even Australia," he said.
Currently, MASwings operates with a fleet of 10 ATR aircraft and four Twin Otters.
