AIRASIA TO TAKE OVER 2 MASWINGS ROUTES
Airline to fly 14 times a week to Kota Kinabalu-Sibu and Kota Kinabalu-Bintulu
THE government has agreed to remove two routes under the Rural Air Services (RAS) involving Kota Kinabalu-Sibu and Kota Kinabalu-Bintulu, while classifying the routes as commercial, beginning January 1 next year.
Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook said AirAsia Group Bhd would take over the two routes from MASWings Sdn Bhd, following the recent cabinet’s approval for the latter’s commercial flight operations.
“The two routes will be opened to commercial airlines after conducting a thorough research to achieve sustainability for the commercial airlines.
“This is to ensure that the continuity of flight services for the two routes would not be affected,” he said at a press conference, here, yesterday.
He said the low-cost carrier would begin serving the routes with 14 flights per week, while offering 2,520 seats or a 165 per cent increment in seats on board its A320 for each route
Flight bookings opened from yesterday.
“MASWings will start ceasing its operations for the two routes, starting January 1 next year.
The airline will compensate passengers for tickets purchased earlier for the routes,” he added.
Previously, the routes were operated by MASWings via its ATR 72 aircraft, with the availability of 952 seats per week.
Loke said the government would subsidise any losses in terms of the operations and differences under RAS, which was currently served by MASWings.
“At the moment, only AirAsia will begin its commercial flights for these two routes. We have signed an agreement with AirAsia. If they pull out, the airline has to compensate the government,” he said.
Loke reiterated that the government has taken out the two routes from the RAS agreement to allow commercial airlines to operate, saying that the routes are in demand and not considered as rural areas anymore.