Sabah backs state-owned carrier to take over routes

KOTA KINABALU: The state government has backed the setting up of a full-fledged airline in Sabah as the state maps out a new alternative to safeguard its booming tourism industry.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the government was keen on another airline after Malaysia Airlines (MAS) decided to suspend flights from here to Perth, Haneda, Osaka and Seoul this month as part of its rationalisation plan. He said the tourism sector in the state was in a quandary following the decision but the state-owned Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd had expressed willingness to take up the challenge to service domestic and the regional routes.

Masidi said the state government had several meetings with MAS to convince the national carrier to come up with alternatives instead of suspending the flights. But there was no headway, prompting Masidi to write to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha last November, requesting that the routes and landing rights be handed over to the state.

“The state supports Sabah Air's stand on their request for the routes and landing rights forfeited by MAS to be given to them,” he said. He said tourism was one of the three major industries in Sabah. “It also made sense for a regional airline to be operating out of Sabah or Sarawak considering the strategic location. “Over 94% of tourists came to Sabah by air,” he said.

Sabah Air, which has 11 helicopters and two aeroplanes operates charter services and has come up with a comprehensive strategy to operate scheduled flights within the state and nearby destinations.

-thestar online.