MIRI: The recent announcement by AirAsia on its decision to cancel the direct flight between Shenzhen and Kuching is a big disappointment and a setback for tourism in Sarawak in general and Kuching in particular.
In a press statement yesterday, Miri mayor Adam Yii said notwithstanding the fact that it was reported that these flights had a passenger load of over 70 per cent, plus the incentives provided by the state government, AirAsia still chose to cancel the route.
“While profitability is certainly a consideration, it is also possible that other factors are at play, including the hope of obtaining better incentives from the state government,” he opined.
“The situation only goes to highlight that without our own Sarawak Airlines, we will be forever at the mercy of the private airlines whose objectives are entirely on short-term commercial consideration in nature.
“Therefore, I am very happy and optimistic for Sarawak tourism development, particularly Miri tourism development, with the announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on the setting-up of our own Sarawak airline.
“This is the right direction to go as far as tourism development is concerned,” he stressed.
He added that the setting-up of Sarawak’s own airline would be challenging and risky.
“Unfortunately, this seems to be the only viable way forward as far our tourism development is concerned, especially at this nascent state of our tourism development, and this is also in recognition that since we cannot depend on others to assist us, we just have to do it ourselves…but we would have to make sure that a competent management team is in place to manage the airline.
“Setting up an airline was no longer as daunting as before since there was a full range of airplanes of various passenger capacities and ranges readily available on leasing arrangement from the numerous plane leasing companies in business,” Yii said.
“And the lease can be on dry lease basis, meaning leasing the plane alone or wet lease basis, meaning leasing the plane plus the pilots and crew,” he added.
Yii said that plane leasing would have the advantage of avoiding heavy upfront investments and any long-term commitments and liabilities.
“As for Miri, I would wish to see that we have direct connectivity to Chengdu and Chongqing in China, Seoul and Pusan in Korea, Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, Taipei in Taiwan, Pontianak in Kalimantan (for the medical and educational potentials) and Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.
“I am sure all Mirians are with me to support our Chief Minister’s initiative to have our own Sarawak airlines. And we look forward to its realisation in the near future,” he said.
