Melaka Air’s new collaboration to boost health tourism sector

MALACCA: Newly-launched carrier FireFly-Melaka Air made its maiden flight to Medan, Indonesia with 35 passengers, recently.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who launched the flight in a brief ceremony hoped that the new collaboration would be a boost to the states tourism industry especially the health tourism sector. It will be easier for Indonesians now to fly direct to Malacca, especially those seeking medical treatments. “I hope destinations covered by Melaka Air would expand to other Asean regions as well as other domestic destinations,” he told reporters here.

The airlines serve two routes of Medan and Subang Airport on a temporary basis with more destinations to be listed in the near future. The initiation of air travel to Medan and Subang was another feather in the cap for the RM191mil airport, which has been upgraded and extended.
Several state-owned agencies including Yayasan Melaka, hold an 80% share in the airlines while NN Flyers, a Kuala Lumpur-based aviation company holds equity of 20% in the company.

The inaugural flight saw a French-made ATR72-500 aircraft departingfrom the airport at 11.11am after receiving a brief farewell from the state leaders and airport authority. Mohd Ali said Melaka Air offered flights to and from Medan and Subang every Monday and Friday with arrival time at 12.45pm and 9.05am, and departure time at 9.25am and 1.05pm respectively.
The ticket prices were RM120 for Malacca-Subang (two-way) and RM500 for Malacca-Medan (two-way).

He said the Medan-Malacca and Subang-Malacca routes were only the beginning to air links under Melaka Air as discussions were underway to cover more destinations in future. “I hope visitors to Malacca could utilise the flight facilities and consider flying Melaka Air when they plan their holiday,” he said. Ticket reservations can be done by logging on to www.fireflyz.com.my, www.yayasanmelaka.gov.my, and www.putriholidays.com.my.
-thestar online.