MASwings to cease operations of eight domestic routes come Jan 1

KUCHING: MASwings will cease operations of eight domestic routes in Sabah and Sarawak, effective Jan 1.

The routes are Kuching- Sibu, Kuching- Bintulu, Kuching-Miri, Kota Kinabalu-Miri, Kota Kinabalu- Sibu, Kota Kinabalu-Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu-Tawau.

A statement from MASwings said the decision to withdraw these return services had been decided by the government, represented by the Ministry of Transport ( MOT) , as par t of the new Public Service Obligation ( PSO) Agreement between MASwings and MOT.

These routes have been removed by the government from the new PSO Agreement as they no longer fall under the defi nition of PSO under the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) Act.

However, the decision will not disrupt air services into these destinations as there are other commercial airlines operating the routes.

“All eight routes will be still in service until Dec 31, 2018 ( Monday). MASwings regrets any inconvenience caused.

“All affected passengers have been notified via email, SMS blast and calls; and given the option to change their travels to an earlier date, subject to seat availability, or to be fully refunded,” it said, adding customers may contact Malaysia Airlines’ 24-hour Call Centre at 1300 88 3000 (within Malaysia) and + 6 03 7843 3000 ( outside Malaysia) for further enquiries.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke had announced on Nov 21 that AirAsia Group Bhd would take over the KK- Sibu and KK-Bintulu routes starting January next year.

Air Asia is already flying the Kuching- Sibu, Kuching-Bintulu, Kuching- Miri, KK- Miri, KK-Sandakan and KK-Tawau routes.

The KK- Sibu and KK- Bintulu routes were among over over 30 Rural Air Service ( RAS) routes in Sabah and Sarawak managed by MASwings, and subsidised by the government as they were deemed non- commercially viable.

According to Loke, the contract wit h MASwi ngs t hat was supposed to end in 2024, would be terminated.