KUCHING: The Federal Ministry of Transport (MoT) is hopeful the Sarawak government’s proposal to establish a boutique airline will be approved.
Deputy Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said it would indirectly help Sarawakians grappling with airfare issues.
“God willing, it will be approved because in principle, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed to the proposal.
“It is our people’s hope and hopefully, we can help our people with the addition of another airline in the country. Even now, we have MyAirlines that offers flights to and from Sarawak,” he said during a Road Safety Campaign walkabout at the Petros Darul Hana multi-fuel station in Petra Jaya yesterday (Apr 19).
He added that his ministry would be conducting studies, with regard to the terms and conditions that would be imposed on the boutique airline later.
Although the Prime Minister has agreed in principle with the Sarawak government’s proposal, the ministry will need to fine-tune matters such as on the licence to be issued, its conditions and others.
“But all these proposals and plans need to go through the cabinet and should be brought and discussed in the cabinet meeting first. It does not just stay at one level only,” he said.
Recently, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the proposal to establish a boutique airline was not aimed at competing with other major airline companies in the country but to stabilise airfares to Sarawak.
Describing it as a small company, he added that it would operate under the Hornbill Skyways platform.
The state-owned airline would not be profit-oriented but aimed to boost air connectivity by offering more affordable airfares, to attract more tourists and investors to Sarawak.
