KOTA KINABALU: A regional Borneo approach can resolve the issue of high airfares during festivities and school holidays, says former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
Sabah Air, Sarawak’s Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd and Royal Brunei Airlines, he said, could look at working together under an aviation umbrella as an alternative to rationalise the cost of air travel, especially during festive seasons.
Shafie said he had discussed this proposal with the Sultan of Brunei when Warisan was helming the state government.
“When we were the state government from 2018-2020, I discussed with the Sultan of Brunei the possibility of the three companies working together,” he said.
He said Hornbill Skyways, Royal Brunei and Sabah Air were licensed airlines in the region.
He said Royal Brunei was the only airline that had suitable aircraft and it would be more practical for Sabah and Sarawak to cooperate for efficient inter-Borneo travel and tourism.
“Brunei has planes but we don’t and if there is a combination of these three provinces, we have the advantage, so we need to look at this,” he said when commenting on the issue of expensive airfares during festive holidays.
