Latest news with #KotaKinabaluInternationalAirport
The Star
an hour ago
- Business
- The Star
Budget airline offers promo fares for new flights from Kota Kinabalu to Fukuoka
KOTA KINABALU: AirAsia Malaysia continues to expand routes to and from Sabah through Kota Kinabalu International Airport, with the latest flight to Fukuoka, Japan, via Taipei (short layover). This launch of their brand new fifth-freedom route from the airline's second-largest hub of Kota Kinabalu will start flying daily from Aug 15, further underscoring AirAsia's commitment to expand its Kota Kinabalu hub. Datuk Captain Fareh Mazputra, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AirAsia Malaysia said this exciting launch marked another significant milestone as they continue to explore new opportunities from the Kota Kinabalu hub. Since reinstating the Kota Kinabalu-Taipei route three years ago, AirAsia has flown more than 130,000 passengers, and the numbers continue to grow, he said. This launch aligns with their vision of connecting people across Asia, enhancing regional connectivity and boosting tourism opportunities, he added. 'With this new route, Sabahans now have more choices and flexibility when travelling to their preferred destinations, while supporting the state government's vision of positioning Sabah as a top tourism destination,' said Fareh. 'We remain committed to facilitating air travel for everyone through enhanced connectivity, convenience and accessibility,' he said. In celebration of the launch, AirAsia is offering special promotional fares for flights from Kota Kinabalu to Fukuoka starting from just RM609 one-way, whereas flights from Fukuoka to Kota Kinabalu are also available from JPY21,390 (RM635) one-way. Guests can book their flights from today until June 8, 2025, for travel between Aug 15, 2025 and March 29, 2026, available on the AirAsia MOVE app and Taipei is one of AirAsia's key virtual hubs within its extensive network. The new route provides more flexibility for Malaysians looking to explore more destinations in Japan, offering an alternative to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Fukuoka via Don Mueang (Thailand), operated by Thai AirAsia (flight code FD). Fukuoka is a popular destination in Japan where tradition meets modernity, with the city renowned for its iconic Tonkotsu ramen, serving as a paradise for foodies. It is also the best go-to destination for nature lovers, as the city offers tranquillity for a perfect getaway trip; stroll through the Ohori Park or the Fukuoka Castle and immerse yourself in the city's rich history. From Aug 15, AirAsia will operate flights to 13 international destinations across Asia from the Kota Kinabalu hub, with a total of 79 flights weekly, solidifying the city's position as Malaysia's second-largest hub. According to AirAsia, all-in fares are quoted for one-way travel only, including passenger service charge, regulatory service charges, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees with terms and conditions applied.
Daily Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Over 6,000 came to Sabah during Kaamatan
Published on: Monday, June 02, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 02, 2025 By: Wu Vui Tek Text Size: Tiong and Haryanty (fourth left and right) together with the state tourism association chairmen celebrate the Kaamatan Festival at KKIA. Kota Kinabalu: Travellers trickled into the state's capital to take advantage of the long holidays in conjunction with the Kaamatan Festival celebration. Throughout the day, 27 flights arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), bringing visitors from Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and destinations across Malaysia. 'These included an estimated 930 international and 4,933 domestic travellers, all of whom were welcomed with festive cheer and cultural experiences upon arrival,' said Tourism Malaysia Sabah Director Haryanty Abu Bakar at KKIA here. 'Malaysia celebrates the long weekend, starting with the festival of Kaamatan, Gawai, and also the birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. 'We celebrate with the cultural diversity of Sabah, including the Magunatip dance performance and sampling of traditional cuisines for the guests,' said Haryanty. The arriving travellers were presented with goodie bags as part of the campaign to promote Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who was among those arriving, performed the beating of a gong and witnessed a symbolic winnowing of rice. The winnowing was performed by Haryanty, KKIA Senior Airport Manager Jefry Ramli, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Marketing Manager Bobby Alex, MATTA Sabah Deputy Chairman Alex Chong, Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah Chairman Vincent Sia, MyBHA Sabah Chairman Harold Chung, and Sabah Tourist Association (STA) Chairman Melanie Chu. Similar activities were held during Chinese New Year and Hari Raya, which also coincided with long holidays and contributed to the increase in arrivals during the holiday season, said Haryanty. She said Tourism Malaysia is collaborating with STB and the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment to encourage domestic tourism, not only focusing on Kota Kinabalu but also expanding to Kota Marudu, Kudat, and other attractive destinations. In addition, she said Sabah is also rich in cultural diversity, where festivals such as Kaamatan are also among the attractions to boost domestic tourism. She said the preparation for VMY 2026 is not only limited to physical tourism, but also on encouraging tourists to get to know the products and packages offered through online platforms. One of them is the cooperation between Tourism Malaysia and to offer special packages throughout the year to promote Malaysia digitally. The promotion campaign starts from April 2025 until February 2026 and will continue to enable tourists to access interesting packages via the digital platform, she said. According to statistics, she said the number of tourists will increase due to the rise in the number of flights. 'We hope that the number of international flights to Kota Kinabalu will increase,' she said. Malaysia's tourism sector continues to experience strong recovery and growth. In 2024, Malaysia welcomed 38 million international visitors – a 31.1 per cent increase from 2023 and 8.3 per cent above pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Visitor receipts also surged, generating RM106.78 billion, reflecting a substantial 43.7 per cent growth over 2023 and exceeding 2019 figures by 20 per cent. This positive trend has continued into early 2025, with the first four months recording 13.4 million visitor arrivals – a 21.0 per cent year-on-year increase. The top ten visitor-generating markets from January to April were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, India, Brunei, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Anwar arrives in Kota Kinabalu for working visit
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Kota Kinabalu last night for a working visit to Sabah. Anwar's arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport here, at about 9.30pm, was greeted by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and other state leaders. Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and Sabah PH chairman Datuk Ewon Benedick, were scheduled to attend a meeting with Sabah PH leaders here. The prime minister is scheduled to attend several programmes, including the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Sabah state-level Kaamatan Festival at Hongkod Koisaan Hall, Kadazandusun Cultural Association, Penampang, at 8am. Anwar will then launch phase 1 of the Esteel Enterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd project at the Sabah International Convention Centre at 10am. He is also scheduled to perform Friday prayers at Nurul Hikmah Mosque, Bukit Padang here before departing for the capital.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Activist Fahmi Reza claims he was barred from entering Sabah
KUALA LUMPUR: Graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza claimed he was denied entry into Sabah upon arriving at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and was sent back to Kuala Lumpur. In a series of Instagram postings, Fahmi shared a notice that appeared to be issued by the Sabah Immigration Department, stating that the barring was made under Section 65(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. The Act allows Sabah authorities to deny entry at their discretion. The notice, dated today at 11.30am, was addressed to Fahmi by name. "The State Authority has directed that no pass be issued to you to enter the State of Sabah, and such a pass is required under Section 66 of the Immigration Act 1959/63," the notice read. Late last year, Fahmi was remanded under the Sedition Act after police received reports that he had pasted caricatures involving the image of Tun Musa Aman, who was to be appointed as the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah at the time, in several areas, including Kota Kinabalu. A 40-second video that went viral showed Fahmi pasting the caricature in a location in Kota Kinabalu.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Anwar arrives in Kota Kinabalu for working visit
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Kota Kinabalu tonight for a working visit to Sabah, which will last until tomorrow. Anwar's arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport here, at about 9:30 pm, was greeted by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and other state leaders. Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and Sabah PH chairman Datuk Ewon Benedick, are scheduled to attend a meeting with Sabah PH leaders here tonight. Tomorrow, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend several programmes, including the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Sabah state-level Kaamatan Festival at Hongkod Koisaan Hall, Kadazandusun Cultural Association, Penampang, at 8 am. Anwar will then launch phase 1 of the Esteel Enterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd project at the Sabah International Convention Centre at 10 am. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to perform Friday prayers at Nurul Hikmah Mosque, Bukit Padang here before departing for the capital.
