KUCHING: AirBorneo will keep fares affordable as it launches a regional service with daily flights on the Kuching-Kuala Lumpur route from July 21 and later commences the Kuching-Singapore route.
This was promised by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who said the “Sarawakku Sayang” fares of RM375 all-in for a one-way economy class ticket and RM736 for a business class ticket for the Kuching-Kuala Lumpur flight will make flights affordable and ease the financial burden on Sarawakians travelling between the Land of the Hornbills and Peninsular Malaysia.
The ticket price is inclusive of checked baggage and a meal.
AirBorneo announced last Saturday that its inaugural Kuching-Singapore daily flight will take off on July 22. The one-way economy class ticket starts from RM399 and business class from RM871.
He said ticket prices between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak had soared to between RM700 and RM800 one-way economy class, especially during the previous festive seasons.
At such high prices, he said Sarawakians would find it difficult to return home to celebrate festivals such as Hari Raya, Gawai Dayak or Chinese New Year.
“AirBorneo was established to provide affordable air services and improve air connectivity (between Sarawak and the outside world) rather than maximise profits.
“As long as I am the premier, I don’t want AirBorneo to increase its fares,” said Abang Johari after opening the RM848.8mil Batang Lupur 1 Bridge in Samarahan Division on July 9.
The 4.844-km long bridge is the longest river-crossing bridge in Malaysia.
The Sarawak government took over the bridge project and completed it with state funds after the federal government withdrew its funding and cancelled the project in 2018.
State-owned AirBorneo took to the sky on Jan 1, this year following the acquisition of MASwings from Malaysia Aviation Group.
Currently, AirBorneo operates a fleet of 14 aircraft – eight ATR 72-500 turboprops and six Viking Air DHC 6-400 Twin Otters – serving rural air routes in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.
Chief executive officer (CEO) Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin said AirBorneo would operate two wet-leased aircraft, offering two daily services between Kuching and Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 commencing July 21, followed by a daily flight to Singapore from Kuching.
“We have already secured the air traffic rights from Singapore.
“The remaining step is to complete operational testing with Changi Airport, which is expected to be finalised soon.
“Once that process is complete, we will be in a position to announce a firm launch for the Kuching and Singapore service and its fares,” he added.
The jet operations will be conducted under an 18-month aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement from July 2026 to December 2027.
“Two jets are essential for us to stabilise our operations.
“We enter the market, stabilise operations, gather customer feedback and assess market response,” said Megat Ardian.
“On the RM375 introductory fare, he said this was determined after analysing ticket prices over the past six months, taking into account fuel price fluctuations and competitors’ pricing.
“We also took last year’s average low fares and benchmarked them against all other local carriers on the route, RM375 sits within that range.
“The fare includes airport taxes, checked baggage, a meal and other standard services, reflecting AirBorneo’s full-service carrier model.
“As Sarawak’s airline, we are committed to connecting people, businesses and opportunities through safe, reliable and affordable air travel.”
Megat Ardian said AirBorneo will progressively expand its jet fleet, with plans to add three more aircraft in 2027.
From 2028, the airline plans to transition the five aircraft to dry leases, lowering lease costs as it assumes responsibility for the crew and aircraft maintenance.
According to Megat Ardian, AirBorneo fleet will continue to expand, with one aircraft added every three months, reaching nine jets by end-2028 and 17 aircraft by 2030.
The airline has a strategy for medium-term network developing routes within a three-to-five-hour flying radius from Sarawak, targeting regional destinations.
