Govt opts for foreign airlines to serve Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said with or without Malaysia Airlines (MAS), the state government will continue to talk to other airlines since Sabah will lose several direct flights to international destinations.

He said the state government had several high level talks with MAS, with one involving Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

“MAS have expressed commitment to look into our request but they have also stated that they cannot turn back on their decision… meaning to say we are definitely going to lose these direct flights.

“I think we should look into long-term and not short-term solutions. I am aware of their financial problem and I know they have serious financial problem, but at the same time I believe cutting down the air routes is not the only answer,” he said to reporters after representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at the launching of Suria Sabah shopping mall here yesterday.

Masidi added the airline’s recent decision to suspend the routes servicing the Eastern Hub would only temporarily solve the problem facing MAS, but promoting Osaka, Haneda, Seoul and Perth with direct stop-overs at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) would certainly help the airline even for the medium term.

Continue reading at: Govt opts for foreign airlines to serve Sabah
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MASwings records hike in passenger load, cargo volume

KUCHING: MASwings recorded encouraging increases in passenger load and cargo volume in both Sarawak and Sabah in the first nine months of this year, said a statement from the Transport Ministry.

It noted this was made possible following an increase of 6.4 per cent in MASwings aircraft movement, with 71,513 movements recorded from January till September compared to 67,213 movements in the corresponding period last year.

At 12,144, Miri Airport recorded the highest number of MASwings aircraft movements.

The development projects in Tanjung Manis were stated as among the factors which led to the increase. The other factors were the increase in flight frequency, the use of ATR-72 aircrafts, Internet promotions and people going for Kaamatan, Gawai and Aidilfitri celebrations.

On passenger load, it said MASwings handled 2,279,849 (almost 2.3 million) passengers for the first nine months, an increase of 13.56 per cent compared to last year’s corresponding period.

The highest number of passengers handled was at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) – 498,821 passengers. Apart from KKIA, eight other airports and seven airfields also recorded increases of between 1.33 per cent and 33.75 per cent.

However, one airport and five airfields recorded decline in passengers handled by MASwings – between 0.48 per cent and 19.51 per cent.

Continue reading at: MASwings records hike in passenger load, cargo volume

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Sabah is eyeing Asia for main tourism income

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is eyeing Asia for its main tourism income given the growing numbers of tourist arrivals from economic powerhouses like China, Japan and Korea as it aims to achieve RM8 billion in tourism receipts by 2015.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said despite the operation curfew imposed on Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), China and Hong Kong posted the highest increase in tourists (38.5 per cent) up to September this year.

"Sabah has lost many chartered flights from China, Korea and Russia due to the KKIA operation curfew," he said during the seventh edition of the Sabah Tourism Awards at Magellan Sutera Harbour, here, Saturday night.

The curfew from 12.30am to 6am is due to the ongoing construction and upgrading works at the KKIA.

However, Masidi was upbeat that once the highly anticipated upgraded runway is completed in April 2012 and adopts a 24-hour daily air connectivity, it will further increase tourist arrivals to the State.

He said his ministry's target of achieving 2.63 million arrivals was on track, adding the State's tourism sector registered a first-time double-digit growth of 15 per cent for the first nine months this year.

He also thanked the Royal Brunei Airlines for providing direct flights from Perth, which contributed to a 16 per cent increase in the number of Australian visitors.

Attributing the boom experienced by the local tourism industry to greater air accessibility and the region's economic and political stability, Masidi said:

"China remains a major driving force in the growth of international tourism. This is the market that could sustain our industry.

"We need to cater to the demand of this important market sector.

Even the USA and Europe are banking on China," he added.

Masidi also urged local players to tap into other Asian countries like Japan, which posted a 22 per cent increase and Korea, 11 per cent.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Sabah is eyeing Asia for main tourism income

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Final Dealine for Kota Kinabalu International Airport Upgrade

KOTA KINABALU: The contractor doing upgrading work at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) has been given another deadline to complete the task.



This will be the third and final extension and work is now expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.



Disclosing this, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha explained that the contractor is struggling to meet the various earlier deadlines, especially in the expansion of the runway from 2,988 metres to 3,780 metres as well as taxi-ways due to several factors.



“There have been many constraints for the contractor, especially in the expansion of the runway because part of it is still being used for take-off and landing of aircraft.



“And, there is also very limited time as the work is mainly done after midnight when the runway is closed,” he told reporters here yesterday after being briefed by Malaysia Airports Berhad on the current situation of the project, here.



Kong hoped the contractor would put in more effort, including hiring more manpower, to meet the new deadline as KKIA was receiving more demands from international airlines to fly to Kota Kinabalu.



He said due to those demands, the development of the airport, which was 89.78 per cent complete as of July 31, was now in a critical situation as it had become the second busiest airport in the country after the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.



Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Final Dealine for Kota Kinabalu International Airport Upgrade

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Firefly Takes Delivery Of Third Boeing 737-800 For Kota Kinabalu Operations

KOTA KINABALU -- Firefly, a community airline subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), took delivery of a third Boeing 737-800 aircraft to be stationed here, officially marking the start of Kota Kinabalu as its eastern hub.

Firefly currently flies daily between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu with its two 737-800s, but with the arrival of the latest aircraft, there will be three aircraft flying six times daily to service the route.

Managing Director Datuk Eddy Leong, in welcoming the new aircraft at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), said the launch of Kota Kinabalu as its eastern hub was part of the company's plan to strengthen its domestic network.

It also plans to soon launch Senai in Johor as its southern hub.

"For the eastern hub, our ultimate aim is to have one flight departing every hour from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur.

"Eventually, we will have three hubs; Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang (KLIA), Senai International Aiport in Johor and the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

"By next week we will take delivery of our second Boeing 737-400, which will be based in Senai, and begin our Johor Bahru-Kuching route by May 19. By June 16, we will start the JB-Kota Kinabalu routes," he told reporters when met at the airport here Saturday.

Launched on April 3, 2007, Firefly initially started operating out of the Penang and Subang hubs before shifting its main operations to KLIA.

It connects various points within Malaysia, Southern Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia, aligning itself with the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) agenda.

Todate, its fleet comprises 10 ATR 720-500, one B737-400 and three B737-800.

Continue reading at: Firefly Takes Delivery Of Third Boeing 737-800 For Kota Kinabalu Operations

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Decision on AirAsia moving to KKIA Terminal 1 rests with ministry

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Airports Bhd (MAB) is ready to accept AirAsia if they move their flight operations to Terminal One of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

MAB general manager Zainol Mohd Isa said with the facilities provided at Terminal One, the low-cost carrier could fulfill all the needs of commercial flights and be able to provide better flight connectivity to their passengers.

“The decision on the matter now rests with the Transport Ministry. All I can say is, we have facilitated this airport with good infrastructure for any airline, including them (AirAsia).

“If they don’t want to move here, it is their choice and they still can operate from Terminal Two,” he said.

Zainol said this to the media during a press conference after launching of the safety, health and environment campaign at KKIA Terminal One yesterday.

Two months ago, AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said the airline was hesitant about moving out its operation from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 of KKIA because the operational costs would increase which would in turn force the reduction in the number of flights and ultimately causing Sabah to lose about one million tourists.

Continue reading at: Decision on AirAsia moving to KKIA Terminal 1 rests with ministry

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New direct flights from Hong Kong to Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Hong Kong Express, which is under Hong Kong Airlines, will begin direct flights to Sabah to bring in more international tourists.

Hong Kong Express provides normal commercial flights and is active in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Hong Kong Airlines sales manager for Malaysia David Wooi revealed the news yesterday, saying that the company was honoured to offer direct flight routes from Hong Kong to Kota Kinabalu.

The maiden flight will depart at 12.05pm on April 22, from Hong Kong Airport and arrives at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) at 3.05pm the same day. The aircraft will subsequently depart at 3.50pm from Kota Kinabalu and reaching Hong Kong at 6.35pm.

Hong Kong Express is currently offering direct flights twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The airline will use the Airbus 737-800 which provides eight business class seats and 156 economy seats.

The company is based in Hong Kong. Among the routes it services are from Hong Kong to China, Japan, Taiwan, Moscow, Singapore, Bangkok, Vietnam and Bali.

Currently there are only three airlines servicing this route, including Malaysia Airlines, Dragonair and AirAsia.

Continue reading at: New direct flights from Hong Kong to Sabah
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AirAsia expected to keep word on KKIA Terminal 1

Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri hopes AirAsia will stick to the written decision conveyed to the Transport Ministry "that they will move their flight operations to the Terminal 1 at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

He said the terminal, with the state-of-the-art facilities, could fulfil all the needs for commercial flight operations and cater to the needs of up to 14 million passengers.

Abdul Rahim said the transfer of AirAsia's operations to Terminal 1 would provide better flight connectivity to the passengers.

It could also avoid passengers from missing their flight and reduce the cost burden on the passengers in hiring taxis to go to Terminal 2 or being trapped in traffic jams while on transit flight, he said here, Saturday.

Furthermore, he said, all the design and facilities at Terminal 1 such as the aerobridge had been provided as required.

As such, Abdul Rahim said, there was no reason for AirAsia not to move to Terminal 1 which he believed would not adversely affect operations but would probably lead to greater efficiency.

Continue reading at: AirAsia expected to keep word on KKIA Terminal 1
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Boost for KKIA as second aviation hub

Malaysia will intensify efforts to promote the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) in Sabah as its second aviation hub, especially after Japan agreed to open skies arrangement with the country.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said more flights to and from Tokyo to Malaysia through Kota Kinabalu were expected as many Japanese wanted to visit Sabah.

“We are currently working towards promoting Kota Kinabalu as a second hub. By this arrangement, it will allow more flights and airlines from Malaysia flying to Tokyo, and this is good for air travelling between the two countries,” he said.

Kong said that his officials met with counterparts from Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism Ministry here last Wednesday to finalise the arrangement.

Following the meeting, the Japanese ministry announced on Friday that the arrangement would, in principle, allow airlines to freely decide on the number of flights and routes they operate between the Narita International Airport in Tokyo and Malaysia from the summer of 2013.

This will take place when the maximum quota of landings and take-offs at Narita are raised to 270,000 per year.

Continue reading at: Boost for KKIA as second aviation hub
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Borneo Escapade

East Malaysia has always fascinated me. Despite being a part of Malaysia, there has been something enchanting, almost foreign about it that has always stroked my fancy. And while I'm a regular visitor to Sarawak, it is Sabah that I had yet to experience. Thanks to Firefly, I managed to do exactly that. The subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines had their inaugural flight to Kota Kinabalu recently, and I was one of the lucky few to board their brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Everyone is used to seeing Firefly's ATR 72-500 turboprops, so having their corporate bright orange-and-white colors on a larger jet is rather refreshing. The bigger planes also mean longer hauls and better comfort, which makes perfect sense when it comes to their flights to East Malaysia.

Upon touchdown at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), we were greeted with a traditional aviation industry welcome, which was a water spraying guard-of-honour. After the welcoming ceremony and press conference, we were taken to Kota Kinabalu's Grand Borneo Hotel, which is part of the 1Borneo Shopping Paradise mall. A simple cocktail party with light food, music and dance followed. And luckily for me, I had a friend who's local; she took me sightseeing around town and beaches at night. Kota Kinabalu is really a town which has to be travelled by car, and it is gorgeous at night.

The next day, we were taken for a preview of Saracen Reef World, which was a reef activity pontoon out at sea. From Sutera Harbour, we took a breezy two-hour-and-twenty minute catamaran ride through Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, where we saw numerous beautiful islands along the way. We were told that the pontoon would be towed more than 40km from its current location to a reef area and be similar to the one at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Despite it being a preview, we did manage to see a couple of fish underwater and also to get an overall feel of how the pontoon would be like when it is expected to open in May. We later took a much smaller boat back to shore where we joked how we sat like refugees on the floor.

That night, dinner was at Kampung Nelayan, a floating seafood market restaurant. The seafood there was served fresh and the dishes served included fish maw soup, pucuk paku (wild fern shoot), succulent prawns, steamed grouper, crispy chicken and soft-shelled crab. I also experienced tasting a type of snail/shellfish called Siput Tarik, aptly named because we used a toothpick to pull it out from its shell. It was rather daunting at first, but I found it tasted somewhat similar to squid. Not too bad I must say.

We were also treated to a traditional Sabahan cultural performance, where dances like the Daling-daling, Sumazau and Magunatip were presented. The Magunatip or bamboo dance was particularly interesting, as it required precision and skill so that the dancers avoided getting their feet trapped in the bamboo as they danced. Guests were also invited to have a try, with many hilariously getting their legs snapped. We were also given a chance to try the famed sumpit (blow-pipe). Later, my Sabahan friend once again took me around town, bringing me to a lovely Irish Bar that was located just beside the sea.

On day three we took a two-hour drive to Kuala Penyu jetty, after which we set off to Pulau Tiga via a fun and bumpy 45-minute ride on speedboat. Pulau Tiga is also popularly known as "Survivor Island" thanks to its role as the site for the first season of reality show, Survivor.

Upon arrival I was drawn by the breathtaking view of a true island paradise; white sandy beaches and greenish waters. Our rooms were little chalets on stilts, surrounded by jungle terrain and wildlife. I wasn't kidding about the wildlife; we found out there was a family of over 20 giant monitor lizards behind our chalets. These lizards will chase you if they detect sudden movement, as demonstrated by one of the resort staff. Monkeys were also common residents, as seen from all the 'do not feed the monkeys' signs around the resort.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Borneo Escapade
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Firefly launches two new hubs and expands network

FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, (MAS) announced today the second phase of its jets expansion programme with the launch of its Southern hub in Senai, Johor and Eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. This exciting phase will be accompanied with the introduction of new sectors and additional frequencies on the Sabah and Sarawak routes, which started operating in January 2011.

KL International Airport

Kuala Lumpur International Airport became the third network hub for Firefly on the 15 January 2011 with the launch of its Boeing 737-800 jet aircraft fleet, offering flights to East Malaysia beginning with Kuching, Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. With the arrival of its third and fourth Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the second quarter this year and the planned acceptance of seven Boeing 737-800 aircraft for 2011, Firefly will also expand its East Malaysia sectors by increasing its Kuching and Kota Kinabalu frequencies as well as introducing new routes.

KUL - KUCHING

* Current frequency - 4 flights a day
* Effective 1 June 2011 - 7 flights a day

KUL – KOTA KINABALU

* Current frequency – 3 flights a day

Having just received approvals we are now expanding the routes from our KLIA hub with the introduction of daily flights to Miri and Sibu, Sarawak commencing on 1 July 2011 and 1 Aug 2011 respectively. This will further improve and strengthen Firefly’s connectivity in addition to offering passengers the convenience and comfort of KLIA with its aerobridge services and award-winning facilities.

KUL – MIRI

* Effective 1 July 2011 – 2 flights daily
* Effective 1 August 2011 – 3 flights daily

KUL-SIBU

* Effective 1 August 2011 – 2 flights daily

EASTERN HUB

Kota Kinabalu is Firefly’s fourth and Eastern hub, currently offering three daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, will operate with three additional flights from Terminal 1 of Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

* Effective 15 May 2011 - 3 additional flights daily

(Bringing the total number to six flights daily between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu)

SOUTHERN HUB

With the commencement of services from the fifth hub in Senai, Firefly is confident of leveraging on the numerous commercial and tourism activities generated in Johor Bahru via the Iskandar Malaysia development and will be able to positively contribute to its economic growth by increasing in-bound arrivals of business and leisure travellers alike.

Source: FireFly Sdn Bhd
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AirAsia and Ministry urged to resolve differences

KOTA KINABALU: The State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment wants the Federal Ministry of Transport (MOT) and AirAsia to seek a win-win situation in resolving differences over the matter of the budget airline’s relocation to the new Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) terminal.

Its minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun said the issue should be regarded from the viewpoint of national interest rather than cost and profit.

“I hope the Ministry of Transport and AirAsia will sit down and seek a win-win situation. AirAsia has some good points but they also need to look at the points raised by the government,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Canadian Education Fair here yesterday.

“I think finally we need to look at the national interest other than just profit and other considerations. AirAsia, being a low-cost airline wants to be efficient and cut costs but they must also consider that the government spent millions to build the new terminal in Kota Kinabalu,” he added.

He also regretted that his ministry and the Sabah Tourism Board were implicated in the issue by AirAsia Group chief executive officer Dato Sri Tony Fernandez.

As a minister of tourism, Masidi said he definitely wanted more tourists coming into the state but his ministry had no jurisdiction over any of the airports.

“If the issue is cost, I’m sure the government would be more than happy to listen but for us, in Sabah, especially my ministry, I don’t think we should even be quoted as having any interest because we don’t own or run any of the airports,” he said.

Sabah Tourism Board chairman Dato Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin also responded that the issue was between the Ministry of Transport, Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) and AirAsia.

Continue reading at: AirAsia and Ministry urged to resolve differences
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AirAsia’s misgivings on relocation to KKIA Terminal 1 refuted

KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Transport says the benefits far outweigh the extra costs for low-cost airline, AirAsia, when it relocates to the new Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) terminal scheduled in mid June this year.

According to its deputy minister, Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, the RM1.6 billion new airport is built to cater for the needs of all airline companies including AirAsia and support their growth in the industry. He acknowledges the extra costs involved but believes quality service and infrastructure would justify the expenses.

“The airport has the facilities to meet the needs of all airlines including AirAsia. There are extra costs involved of course but we have built this airport to ensure the growth of the industry,” he told New Sabah Times yesterday.

He was asked to comment on AirAsia Group CEO Dato Sri Dr Tony Fernandez who had said on Friday that the airline was against the relocation, citing higher costs and charges as well as lack of facilities as among the reasons.

He told newsmen then that if the airline had to move out from its traditional home at Terminal 2 to KKIA Terminal 1, its expansion plan for Sabah which includes strengthening the existing routes and the opening of new markets from here all the way to North and South America, Australia, Korea, China and Japan would be affected. And the state could experience a significant drop in the number of passenger and tourist arrivals as a result.

But the AirAsia boss’ stand on the matter however came as a little surprise to Abdul Rahim who said that the airline had in fact signed a letter of undertaking with the Ministry of Transport a few months ago concerning its relocation to the KKIA Terminal 1.

In December 2010, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha had said that the ministry had an understanding with AirAsia to relocate the airline and other low-cost airlines once the upgrading project of the new terminal’s runway and resurfacing work gets completed.

And he disagreed with Fernandez that KKIA would be congested during peak seasons.

“The new airport is designed for fourteen million passengers. Now we have five million. So the question about congestion does not arise. Even after ten years I don’t think we can reach its maximum capacity. So there’s plenty of space,” he explained.

On Fernandez’s concern that the relocation would cost passengers to pay RM51 of Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from what it is now at RM25 at the low-cost terminal, the deputy minister insisted the “good facilities” at KKIA would justify the extra cost. He explained the RM51 applies to passengers going abroad while domestic ones only pay RM9.

Continue reading at: AirAsia’s misgivings on relocation to KKIA Terminal 1 refuted
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AirAsia explains why airline must remain at KKIA Terminal 2

AirAsia insists on remaining at the low-cost terminal at Tg Aru and warns that Sabah could see a significant drop in the number of passenger arrivals if the airline is forced to relocate to the new Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA). AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Dato Sri Dr Tony Fernandez argued if the government still goes ahead with the plan, the budget airline will be burdened with higher costs and charges which would badly affect its current service to the state economy especially in tourism.

He also claimed that the new KKIA terminal does not have enough facilities to meet with the needs of the airline.

“We are very against it because they don’t have enough facilities on the terminal for us from the start,” he said to reporters from Sabah and Sarawak at AirAsia’s headquarters here on Friday.

“It looks empty but during peak time there are a lot of planes coming in so where are we going to put our planes and there’s not enough check-in desks,” he said.

He added that the move would not only dampen AirAsia’s plans to expand into new routes but also jeopardize its current routes as well.

“Already my Indonesian counterparts are reviewing whether to keep the Jakarta-KK (route),” he said.

According to Fernandez, AirAsia was planning to add two more planes to the current fleet of six in Kota Kinabalu which is estimated to bring in an additional of about 800,000 passengers into the state in one year.

A move to the new terminal would also mean that the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) would cost higher from RM25 to RM51 that would burden passengers, he said.

AirAsia also had plans to use the low-cost terminal in Kota Kinabalu as a major eastern hub to venture into markets in North and South America, Australia, Korea, China and Japan.

Continue reading at: AirAsia explains why airline must remain at KKIA Terminal 2
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KKIA runway expected to be completed by March 2012

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) runway extension project has been extended and is expected to be completed by March 2012.

Global Upline corporate advisor Tan Sri Dr Ting Pek Khing said the extension was given because the company had to use a new construction method to build the additional 480 meters of runway into the sea without causing further erosion to the shoreline and to finish resurfacing work on the runway itself.

“Resurfacing of the runway is expected to be completed by the end of this year or early next year. The balance of the work will be completed by March next year,” he said.

Ting said that the method, which has been approved by the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), would cost more money and an additional nine months to complete and will not impede the utilization of the runway during the duration.

“Extension of the runway can be finished in March but there are a lot of other things we have to consider. Many need approval and financial approval. The runway is safe for landing, no problem,” he said here yesterday.

Ting said that the company is now awaiting the approval from the Ministry of Transport and the allocation for the new construction method known as ‘Temporary Staging’ that will not affect the shoreline.

“The EIA has already approved our system of doing it, we just need the final approval from the Ministry of Transport to ask for more money to change the system of construction in order to finish it without destroying the shoreline, which is good for the villagers because it might incur flooding if it is not done properly,” he said.

Continue reading at: KKIA runway expected to be completed by March 2012
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Firefly, a boost to tourism in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Air travellers, both locals and foreigners, now have more choices with the presence of Firefly in the market. Their presence will drive other airlines to offer the most competitive fares.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman when making the comment, said the increase in the number of daily flights between the nation’s capital and the state capital have made it easier for travellers to visit Sabah.

“Sabah has worked extremely hard to promote itself as a destination and to offer the best of what the island of Borneo has. There was a time when we were unable to expand our tourism sector as rapidly as we would have liked to. This was certainly attributable to the lack of flights between KL and KK.

“Air travel is after all, the only way for tourists to get to East Malaysia,” he said in his speech read by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun during the welcoming ceremony of the inaugural Firefly flight to the state capital from Kuala Lumpur at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport near here yesterday.

He said the state government’s focus on expanding the tourism sector along with the aviation industry is included under the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) plan as well as the ‘Halatuju’ or development agenda.

“We are committed to focusing our efforts to strengthen the tourism sector, as it has been identified as a growth sector of our economy.

“However, we will continue to adhere to the principles of sustainable development as we expand our tourism sector. The government is also consistently providing basic infrastructure to support the growth of the sector and testimony to this is the expansion of KKIA,” he said.

He said the launching of Firefly’s service to the state capital would certainly help fulfill the government’s agenda to stimulate economic growth through the tourism sector.

Continue reading at: Firefly, a boost to tourism in Sabah
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KK-Perth route MAS’ second international destination for Eastern Hub

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysia Airlines (MAS) inaugural Perth-Kota Kinabalu touched down at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) yesterday, carrying the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun and 155 other passengers on the airline’s new 160-seater Boeing 737-800.

The Kota Kinabalu-Perth route is MAS’s second international destination after its Eastern Hub was announced last October.

Masidi said the launch of the inaugural flight was an important milestone in effort to promote the country, especially Sabah.

He further said the route would provide an additional facility to the large number of Sabahans residing in Perth.

“Apart from students, there are quite a number of Sabahans or ex-Sabahans residing in Perth, as many

as 20,000. There are many Malaysians who have put up their second home in Perth,” Masidi said, while adding that he did not have the number of Sabahan students in Perth.

In the press conference, he lauded MAS for accepting the his ministry’s request to introduce the Kota Kinabalu-Perth flight. Masidi also urged Sabahans to work hard in sustaining the Kota Kinabalu-Perth flight.

“Eventually MAS makes commercial decisions, we must have sufficient load to justify the flight.”

Masidi further complimented the experience the new aircraft brings to passengers, saying that the economy class enjoyed better seats as well as their own television terminal.

On introducing new destinations, MAS chairman Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid said the airline would currently focus on improving its existing routes.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: KK-Perth route MAS’ second international destination for Eastern Hub
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Sabah expects RM8 billion from tourism yearly by 2015

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will be expecting five million tourist arrivals and a receipt of RM8 billion a year by 2015, said Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Bolkiah Ismail.

He expressed his confidence in the growth of the tourism industry, as shown by the increasing number of hotels here as well as more flights arriving in Sabah upon the completion of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

Bolkiah pointed out that these factors would contribute to the tourist arrivals, particularly international tourists to Sabah as well as more receipts contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Sabah has its fair share of the national tourist arrivals such as 2,300,428 in 2008, 2,246,068 in 2009 and 1,836,957 as of October last year,” he said when officiating at the Tamariska Tours and Travel Forum organised by TSA Borneo Sdn Bhd and Sabah Consumer Cooperative Bhd (KPSB) here yesterday.

He further revealed that tourist arrivals had leapt from 5.5 million tourists in 1998 bringing in RM8.6 billion receipts to 23.65 million arrival in 2009 and RM53.4 billion receipts.

Many of the travellers were repeat visitors.

Bolkiah further said the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ranked Malaysia as the world’s top 10 international destinations in 2009, while Lonely Planet listed Malaysia in the top 10 countries for ‘Best in Travel 2010’ and ‘Best Value Destination for 2010’.

He added that UNWTO said majority of future tourists would come from emerging markets like Brazil, India and China.

On another development, Bolkiah lauded TSA Borneo Sdn Bhd’s effort in providing a mixed approach in the tourism trade to further develop the industry in an emerging market.

Tamariska Solutions offers membership for vacation packages and income supplement through a system of ‘member gets member’.

The programme is a solution for anyone who wishes to have his or her own business without seeing the background of a person.

Tamariska Tour Package provides domestic and overseas packages with a special price.

Travellers who buy Tamariska Tour Package will automatically obtain membership and receive benefits and facilities.

The membership system is also said to provide various bonuses for qualified members.

Continue reading at: Sabah expects RM8 billion from tourism yearly by 2015
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KKIA terminal expected to be fully-operational by end of January

Kota Kinabalu: The extended Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) terminal is expected to be fully-operational by end of January, leaving only works on the runway to be completed.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha when visiting the airport to check on the progress of its expansion, said works on resurfacing the existing runway and its extension from 2,988 metres to 3,780 metres is expected to take about a year's time to finish, and will commence around end of next month too.

"The resurfacing is to patch up some of the potholes, but it will take a long time because it's more difficult, as the existing runway will be used the whole day maybe until midnight, and the contractor may only have a window period of about four hours in the middle of the night to work on it.

"It is also very time consuming, as the total resurfacing of runway consists of three layers and one day they can only do about 40 metres, and that 40 metres you have to do three times ... so it will take about a year," he said, after the inspection accompanied by Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Azharudin Abd Rahman.

He said once it is fully completed, there will be no time constraint and the runway can be used almost 24 hours.

AirAsia which is currently operating at Terminal Two, is also expected to shift its operation into the main terminal here by next year, once everything is in place.

Continue reading at: KKIA terminal expected to be fully-operational by end of January
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Travel agents want Sabah exempted from ITC

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah travel agents want the State tourism to request that the Transport Ministry give special consideration to the state in dealing with the Inclusive Tour Charter (ITC).

The ITC was enforced in September this year to bar foreign chartered flights from getting Malaysian passengers.

The move is bound to affect the tourism industry in Sabah, said Multiclients Travels Sdn Bhd, managing director Nicholas Liong.

Liong who had been doing chartered flight services for the past 10 years said the ITC was imposed to protect the national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia but it did not benefit the tourism industry in Sabah and Sarawak.

“For peninsula, this policy is not a problem to them but for Sabah it will hurt the tourism sector because we don’t have direct flights to certain popular destinations such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Guilin and Taipei.

“Because of this, we decided to introduce chartered flights for all these destinations which do not have direct flights from Kota Kinabalu. This service benefited a lot of people in the hospitality industry and the state economy.

“We urge our State Tourism Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun to look into the matter and discuss it with the Transport Ministry for a solution,” he said.

Nicholas said the imposition of ITC has nothing to do with the closure of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) runway extension project which started in May this year.

The KKIA runway is closed from 1am to 5am and all the chartered airlines avoided these hours, he said adding that chartered flights would arrive at 11pm and 6am and depart within an hour.

Continue reading at: Travel agents want Sabah exempted from ITC
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