Hii wants Sibu-KK route to be served by passenger jet planes
SIBU: Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( SCCCI) is disappointed that the Sibu-Kota Kinabalu ( KK) route is not being served by passenger jet planes.
Its president Dr Hii Sui Cheng pointed out that the chamber had continuously requested for the important route to be serviced by passenger jet planes.
He was commenting on Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s announcement last Wednesday that MASwings would cease operations for six routes in Sabah and Sarawak by next year to make way for other airlines.
These routes are Kota Kinabalu – Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu – Tawau, Kota Kinabalu – Miri, Kuching – Miri, Kuching – Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching – Sibu.
Dr Hii said: “We are disappointed that Sibu-KK route is not included among the routes to be served by bigger aircraft.
“What I am trying to say is that it is good that MASwings continue to fly the Sibu-KK route but at the same time, it should also be opened up to other commercial airlines keen to service Sibu-KK sector.”
He added that MASwings flights were often delayed and even cancelled and its high fare had led to the reduction of passengers volume over time.
Hence, he believed that if Malaysian Aviation Commission ( Mavcom) were to use the statistics of MASwings to decide on flights to Sibu it would not be viable for bigger aircraft to service Sibu-KK sector.
To help MASwings improve its service specifically for SibuKK route, he proposed imposing a price ceiling of RM120 for one way Sibu-KK ticket or RM240 for a return fare.
He added if there is a delay (other than bad weather or other reasons beyond the airline control) in excess of 30 minutes by MASwings, the airline should automatically refund RM60 to the passengers.
“There should be no cancellations but if does happen, passengers should be compensated with the full ticket price plus RM100. This key thing is make it painful for MASwings so that it will buck up on its service,” he suggested.