KUCHING: Sarawak-owned airline AirBorneo is looking to spread its wings further across the region, with Thailand and South Korea among its next international destinations, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
“Jakarta is our second route in Asean after Singapore. After this, once we have increased our aircraft, we are looking at the possibility of flying to Bangkok.
“Another destination we are considering is Korea,” the Premier told reporters after sending off the inaugural Kuching-Jakarta flight at Kuching International Airport yesterday.
Abang Johari said AirBorneo had already held discussions on securing landing rights in Bangkok.
He said the route could be launched by April or May next year, ahead of the 2027 SEA Games, which will be co-hosted by Sarawak.
“We are targeting the SEA Games and negotiating for AirBorneo to be one of its official carriers, because the opening ceremony will take place in Sarawak,” he said.
On South Korea, Abang Johari said the possible destination is either Seoul or Jeju Island.
Jeju is being considered because it shares the same Unesco Global Geopark recognition as the Sarawak Delta Geopark.
“We aim to fly to Korea by 2027, but we don’t have an exact date yet. There’s no rush,” he added.
Meanwhile, AirBorneo said its Kuching-Jakarta service was designed to cater to growing business and leisure travel between the two cities.
“We are very glad to bring Kuching and Jakarta a little closer,” said the airline’s chief executive officer Megat Ardian Aminuddin.
“Jakarta is our first route into Indonesia and our third jet route since July. We see it as a link between neighbours rather than simply a market we fly into and we hope it serves business travellers, families and visitors in both directions.”
He added that AirBorneo was now focusing on operating the route reliably and growing it carefully.
The service operates three times a week on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays, with all-in one-way fares starting from RM399 in economy class and RM888 in business class.
AirBorneo’s first two routes, from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, were launched in July.
