Latest news with #AirBorneo
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
S'wak on course to hit five million tourist arrival target, state assembly told
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah delivering his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (May 27). KUCHING: Sarawak is on track to achieve its target of five million visitor arrivals this year after receiving encouraging numbers in the first four months, the state legislative assembly was told. State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said more than 1.6 million arrivals were recorded from January to April, generating tourism receipts totalling RM4.07bil. ALSO READ: Sarawak exceeds 2024 tourist arrival target by 20%, rakes in RM12.45bil ( He said the state was expected to generate RM12.73bil in tourism receipts this year, an increase over RM12.45bil from 4.83 million visitors last year. "Asean is our key tourism market, with Brunei Darussalam contributing the largest share of visitor arrivals to Sarawak in 2024, accounting for 39.1% or 1.89 million visitors, followed by Indonesia with 13.5% or 653,883 visitors. ALSO READ: S'wak planning more events to hit 2025 target of five million visitors ( "Singapore and the Philippines contributed 1.2% (59,793) and 1% (46,853), respectively. "Meanwhile, China became a significant contributor with 1.5% or 74,721 visitors," Karim said when winding up matters related to his ministry on Tuesday (May 27). He said Sarawak continued to receive large numbers of visitors from Brunei and Indonesia from January to April this year with 514,015 and 236,054 respectively. China (24,865), Singapore (18,637) and the Philippines (14,482) remained among the top five contributors, he added. ALSO READ: MASwings buy to be completed end-2025, says Sarawak Deputy Transport Minister ( Looking ahead, Karim said the introduction of Sarawak's own airline, AirBorneo, and the proposed new Kuching International Airport would increase visitor arrivals and take the tourism industry to new heights. He said AirBorneo would allow Sarawak to plan its destinations of choice in line with market demand without relying on other commercial airlines. "I believe, through potential strategic partnerships with other established airlines in the near future, AirBorneo will be able to secure air connectivity to major tourism hubs in the world and expand Sarawak's market," he added. Sarawak's acquisition of MASwings Sdn Bhd to become AirBorneo is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The state government signed a share purchase agreement with MASwings' parent company Malaysia Aviation Group on Feb 12, with the legal and beneficial ownership expected to be transferred to AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd by Dec 31.
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
AirBorneo set to take flight by end-2025 following MASwings acquisition
Lee speaking during a press conference held in the State Legislative Assembly building today. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (May 26): Sarawak's very own airline, AirBorneo, is on track to officially take to the skies by the end of 2025, following the full acquisition of MASwings Sdn Bhd from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), said Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin. According to him, the Share Purchase Agreement between the Sarawak Government and MAG was signed on Feb 12 this year, with the legal and beneficial ownership of MASwings expected to be transferred to AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd by Dec 31, 2025. 'All stakeholders are actively working to fulfil the necessary regulatory, operational and legal requirements during this transition period to ensure a seamless handover. 'AirBorneo will also focus on enhancing regional and international air connectivity, while continuing to serve rural areas under the Rural Air Services (RAS),' he added in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today. A key initiative during the rebranding process is the AirBorneo Logo and Livery Design Competition, which launched on March 5 and attracted nearly 1,000 entries. He said the winning design will reflect Sarawak's rich cultural heritage and forward-looking vision. 'AirBorneo is poised to strike a balance between improved connectivity, affordable fares, and economic benefits. This positions Sarawak as a key player in the regional aviation industry,' he said. Apart from that, he said to ensure service continuity, all MASwings staff will be retained post-acquisition, leveraging their experience to maintain reliability. He also assured that the schedule, frequency and routes under the RAS network will remain unchanged during and after the transition. As of the first quarter of 2025, MASwings recorded 191,837 passengers and 26.6 tonnes of cargo across its RAS routes, with 8,670 aircraft movements, underscoring the importance of rural connectivity in Sarawak. Meanwhile in his speech, Lee also highlighted a strong rebound in Sarawak's air traffic, with 30,980 aircraft movements and 2.5 million passengers recorded in the first quarter of 2025, which is an eight per cent increase compared to the same period last year. 'Air cargo movements also surged by 23.3 per cent to 14,438 tonnes, driven by rising demand for electronics, oil and gas equipment, e-commerce goods, perishables and general cargo. 'Internationally, Sarawak currently sees 37 international flights per week, while domestic routes from other Malaysian states contribute an average of 427 weekly flights. Kuching International Airport remains the busiest hub with 216 weekly flights, followed by Miri (99), Sibu (55), and Bintulu (45),' he said. In a related development, Lee announced that Batik Air will launch a new Subang–Kuching route starting July 28, 2025. On intra-state connectivity, Sarawak recorded an average of 620 domestic flights weekly in the first quarter, linking urban centres with rural settlements. 'Miri leads with 181 flights per week, followed by Kuching (142), Sibu (66), and Bintulu (40). These routes are served by AirAsia, Firefly, and MASwings,' he said. Lee also said that with AirBorneo and robust air connectivity growth, Sarawak is laying a strong foundation for inclusive, sustainable development and a thriving aerospace industry. AirBorneo DUN sitting lead Lee Kim Shin MASWings Sdn Bhd
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
MASwings takeover: All staff to be retained
KUCHING: Sarawak's Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin today gave his assurance that the entire MASwings workforce would be retained to ensure operational continuity following the handover to AirBorneo Holdings Berhad. He said that the employees' experience and expertise were essential in maintaining service quality and reliability during the transition. "The full handover of MASwings Sdn Bhd is expected to be completed by Dec 31, 2025, upon the transfer of legal and beneficial ownership to AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd," he said during his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly. The Sarawak government and Malaysia Aviation Group, MASwings' parent company, signed a share purchase agreement on Feb 12, 2025, enabling Sarawak to take ownership of the regional airline. Lee said that AirBorneo, which is currently operating under the MASwings brand, would continue to use the existing Air Service Licence (ASL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) throughout the interim period. Following rebranding, AirBorneo will take on a transformative role in strengthening Sarawak's regional and international air connectivity. "AirBorneo will continue to prioritise Rural Air Services while progressively expanding to regional destinations," he said, adding that the airline aims to strike a balance between connectivity, affordability, and economic benefit. Lee said that by enhancing air connectivity and investing in airline capabilities, the Sarawak government was laying the groundwork for inclusive and sustainable development across various sectors, positioning the state as a key player in the regional aviation industry. In the first quarter of this year, MASwings recorded 191,837 passengers and transported 26.6 tonnes of cargo across its Rural Air Services (RAS) network, with 8,670 aircraft movements — a clear indication of the vital role RAS plays in linking rural and remote communities. Lee added that his ministry, in collaboration with the Federal Transport Ministry, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), and MASwings, was committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition of RAS operations to AirBorneo. He assured that the schedule, frequency, and network of RAS flights would remain unchanged throughout and beyond the transition period.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
AirBorneo begins hiring spree for senior roles before maiden flight in 2026
KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak's ambitious new airline, AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd (AirBorneo), is ramping up efforts to build a core leadership team as it prepares for take-off by 2026. Business Times has learnt that the up-and-coming carrier is recruiting several senior-level information technology (IT) roles, including Head of IT for several divisions. These include application management, operations and infrastructure, as well as security and compliance. All roles will be based at AirBorneo's headquarters in Kuching. The latest hiring push follows a similar move two months ago when AirBorneo began its search for a chief operations officer (COO). As at press time, AirBorneo has yet to officially announce its leadership team. The wave of high-level hiring comes amid expectations that the airline, backed by the Sarawak state government, will focus on enhancing regional connectivity, especially to underserved destinations across Borneo as well as regional cities. Details of AirBorneo's fleet and route strategies remain under wraps, although Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has previously said that the state wants to emulate the success of Dubai-based carrier Emirates. According to media reports, some of the international destinations that AirBorneo is eyeing include Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Seoul and Frankfurt as the airline aims to operate as a full-service carrier. AirBorneo is a rebranding product of MASwings, following Sarawak's acquisition of the latter from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) through a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) signed between both parties on Feb 12, 2025. While financial details of the deal remain confidential for commercial reasons, Abang Johari described the acquisition as a key step in positioning Sarawak as a regional aviation hub. "By taking this strategic step, we are positioning and transforming Sarawak as an aviation hub for Borneo and a gateway to Asean," he said at the SPA signing ceremony. "This will open doors to new opportunities and fostering greater connectivity and accessibility to both domestic and international destinations that will benefit our local communities and businesses alike." Sarawak deputy minister for transport, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil recently said that the state is on track to finalise the acquisition by Dec 31. He said both AirBorneo and MAG are currently in the process of securing regulatory approvals from several aviation authorities. These include the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The regulatory approvals are needed before the transaction can be completed. "The process also involves the transfer of operating assets from MAG to AirBorneo and preparations for a seamless transition of operations," Dr Jerip said during a State Assembly session on May 21. He also said that AirBorneo will continue to operate Rural Air Services (RAS) for remote areas in Sarawak and Sabah while all MASwings staff will be retained under the new entity. Earlier this month, Abang Johari led a high-level delegation to Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France – a move industry sources said as laying the groundwork for AirBorneo and Sarawak's future aviation ambitions. The premier's visit was accompanied by Sarawak's deputy premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, State secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and other senior government officials. The visit was shared by Airbus executive vice president international, Wouter Van Wersch in a LinkedIn post. He described Sarawak as "a Malaysian state full of potential." Van Wersch highlighted Sarawak's focus on developing connectivity, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) derived from algae oil and agricultural waste. "We at Airbus are already in talks on how Sarawak could contribute to powering the future of flight," he said in the post, adding that the state has plans to develop a 40ha integrated hub to support the aviation ecosystem. "We discussed which aircraft would be best suited to serve this growing hub and how Airbus could contribute with training facilities and programmes," he said without disclosing or hinting specific aircraft types that AirBorneo might be interested in. Industry sources said all eyes are on AirBorneo's next move, especially on its key leadership appointment, fleet announcement and its first confirmed regional or international route.
Borneo Post
21-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Dr Jerip: Full acquisition of MASwings expected to be finalised by December (Video)
Dr Jerip (right) and state Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin going through the responses for the question-and-answer session at the DUN building today. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (May 21): The full acquisition of MASwings Sdn Bhd by AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd is expected to be finalised by Dec 31 this year, with no changes to the current Rural Air Services (RAS) operations, said Datuk Dr Jerip Susil. The state Deputy Minister of Transport said that following the execution of the Sales and Purchase Agreement between AirBorneo Holdings and Malaysia Aviation Group in February 2025, the completion of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of conditions precedent. 'During the period between February 2025 until December 2025, both parties shall work towards fulfilling the conditions, including but not limited to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 'As well as transferring of operating assets from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) to AirBorneo Holdings, and carrying out the preparation for the transition of operations from MAG to AirBorneo,' he said during the question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly today. Dr Jerip was responding to Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (GPS-Bawang Assan), who raised questions about the acquisition process of MASwings and the effect of the change in ownership on the RAS. Regarding whether the change in ownership would disrupt RAS operations, he assured that the schedule, frequency and network of the RAS are expected to remain the same, even after the takeover by the state government. 'In terms of operations, the period between the signing of SPA in February 2025 until December 2025 is to allow for a proper and smooth transition of operations from Malaysia Aviation Group to AirBorneo,' he said. Furthermore, he noted that the entire workforce of MASwings will be retained, leveraging their extensive experience in managing RAS operations to ensure continuity, operational stability, and service reliability throughout and beyond the transition phase. AirBorneo Dr Jerip Susil full acquisition maswings Rural Air Services
