AirAsia to offer direct flights to Tawau and Sandakan from Asian countries
AirAsia will start offering direct flights to Tawau and Sandakan from other Asian countries beginning next year.
AirAsia Group Berhad’s Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said that the new routes are likely to start operating in January or as late as February, next year.
He said that the airline was prepared to expand its flight services to the two destinations.
He cited that the countries involved would be China, South Korea, Japan as well as other Asian countries.
Speaking to the media a er visiting the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Haji Apdal yesterday at the la er’s office, he also said that AirAsia would also launch new winter flight services to China and Korea, while also promote a ractive destinations in Sabah.
He stressed that Sabah’s capital, Kota Kinabalu, would continue to be important for the airline’s operation and that this could be expanded further once the terminal 2 airport is opened.
“This is also the topic of my discussion with the Chief Minsiter. Aside from developing the Tawau and Sandakan airports, the Terminal 2 here will also be developed together with Kuching, Miri and Sibu Sarawak,” he said.
He said that AirAsia presently brings in eight million visitors to Kota Kinabalu and that with the re-opening of the Terminal 2, the airline would be able to bring in 15 million visitors and create 32,000 job opportunities.
The flights, he said, would generate RM150 billion in terms of economy to Sabah.
He also said that the Terminal 2 is an important asset that should not be le vacant and unused.
“The re-opening of the terminal will enable Kota Kinabalu International Airport to receive more international airlines,” he said.
Tony said that he was optimistic that the Terminal 2 would be reopened a er his discussion with the Chief Minister and said that if the approval was given, they could develop the terminal in merely six months.
“The airport’s capacity must be increased since Sabah will need more tourists in the future,” he said.
Aside from that, he also explained that AirAsia wants to help local entreprenuers to market their products via their e-commerce platform named ourshop.com.
He said that products featured at the platform would be able to penetrate international market and various services would be readied by AirAsia to launch business operations.