KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd (SAASB) has welcomed news that its Sarawakian counterpart Hornbill Skyways has been given the go-ahead to operate its own boutique airline.
SAASB group chief executive officer Rodney Linus said both aviation companies previously discussed possible collaboration to provide services for the best interest of Sabahans and Sarawakians.
This also included Sabah establishing its own airline.
He said the green light by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for Sarawak’s request to establish a boutique airline has left SAASB optimistic about a greater Borneo aviation industry.
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Linus said SAASB had in fact been speaking to Hornbill Skyways over matters of common interest, especially taking the aviation industry in both Sabah and Sarawak to greater heights.
Both parties, he said, also discussed issues that concern air travellers in both states, including high airfares.
“On various occasions previously, SAASB and Hornbill Airways sat down together to discuss matters that concern our people including the setting up of our own airline,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 18).
“Hopefully, at some point both parties will be able to collaborate in ways that would serve the best interest of travellers in Sabah and Sarawak.
“For us at this point, we’re delighted to learn that Sarawak has taken the lead,” Linus added.
On Monday (April 17), Anwar approved in principle Sarawak’s request for the airline to be discussed at the Cabinet meeting the next day, after which an official reply would be given to the state.
“I don’t see why we should object, as Sarawak has a proven track record of good management,” he said when opening the Raia Hotel and Convention Centre in Kuching.
The Prime Minister added that Sarawak has been taking the lead in many areas including electric vehicles and hydrogen energy, as well as setting an example in running a state.
“In view of Sarawak’s good performance, I agree to the state’s request for a boutique airline,” he said, in an immediate response to Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, who had raised the request in his speech earlier.
A boutique airline is an airline that differentiates from competition through unique customer experience and personalisation.
The boutique airline would be set up as a commercial wing under Hornbill Skyways.
Linus echoed the remarks by Abang Johari that the state’s request to set up a boutique airline was to stabilise airfares.
“Like our neighbours in Sarawak, we in Sabah have faced the problem of high airfares as well. So, this is a solution that fits well with us in Borneo,” he said.
Meanwhile, SAASB chairman Kenny Chua backed Linus’ statement, saying that the Sabah government-linked company has a wealth of experience and technical capabilities to provide a wide range of services to air travellers and corporate clients.
“Although it’s been our dream to establish Sabah’s own airline, we’re also looking at the entire aviation ecosystem which we aspire to create in the state that would serve not just our state but Borneo in general.
“After all, we are all part of the same island and skies,” he said.
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SAASB was formerly known as Penerbangan Sabah and is one of the oldest general aviation companies in Malaysia.
Chua noted that SAASB has a proven track record in terms of performance, with a long list of clientele that includes national oil giant PETRONAS.
He said the company has embarked on the state’s first fully-integrated cargo terminal (CTO), which is a step forward towards capitalising on the regional aviation market, especially China, Japan and South Korea.
The proposed terminal is a long-term venture between Sabah Air, which comes under the state Finance Ministry, and Pos Malaysia, the country’s largest logistics and postal company.
The terminal will be a technologically advanced hub to manage general and perishable cargo as well as ecommerce, once fully operational.
The memorandum of intent between SAASB and Pos Malaysia was signed last year.
Chua said the terminal will boost the state’s economy in line with the development aspirations spelled out in the Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap.
“The CTO project is in the final stages. The only problem is with regards to land at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 2 that we need to iron out with the Transport Ministry,” he said.
