KOTA KINABALU: The city is being positioned as the next major transit hub, with ambitious plans to turn Sabah's capital into a key stopover for international travellers.
Over the past two decades, AirAsia has brought nearly 80 million passengers to Sabah, according to Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
"We want Kota Kinabalu to be a stopover for travellers similar to Dubai, where people from other countries or other regions can stay for a few days before continuing their journey," he added, touching on regional connectivity.
While the idea of establishing a dedicated airport terminal in Sabah is ideal, Fernandes acknowledged that this project is "beyond my pay scale."
"I am just giving the government and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad the 'juice'. No point building a terminal no one is going to fly to. We want to make KK a hub, but you need to give us the right 'juice' and terminal, otherwise it’s hard for us," he added.
Despite the challenges, Fernandes stressed the importance of capitalising on Sabah's strategic location.
"Building a new airport would be a long-term project, no matter how quickly we act. But in the meantime, we must consider temporary solutions to realise our vision.
“If there is a chance to make KK a hub, let's not wait for the new airport, or terminal, or a new site. Grab the opportunity now.
"One thing we are good at is if there's a chance, grab it now," he said Tuesday (Aug 13) after receiving the Sabah Tourism Appreciation Award from Sabah Tourism Board (STB) for his contributions.
STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the matter had also been discussed with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and plans for the next few months had been outlined.
"This is where Sabah and AirAsia understand each other’s needs. We can make it a reality. We want AirAsia to play a role in this," he said.
Fernandes also shared plans to expand AirAsia's routes to Australia and Japan, with flights connecting Sabah to major cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in Australia, and Tokyo and Osaka in Japan.
