18Oct

AirAsia to launch direct international flights to Tawau, Sandakan next year

KOTA KINABALU: Tawau and Sandakan are expected to welcome direct international flights brought in by low-cost carrier AirAsia from early next year. AirAsia Group Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said they are looking at linking both cities to destinations in China, Korea, Japan and Asean countries. "We are looking at January, February. I want to launch it during the winter period to promote the wonderful beaches here.We are ready to do it now as we believe we can bring lot of jobs and growth directly to Tawau and Sandakan. "So I will fly to Tawau right after this to announce to our staff," he told reporters after paying a courtesy call to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on Friday (Oct 18). However, he said Kota Kinabalu would remain a priority hub as plans are afoot for KK-Seoul flights from next August. Fernandes reiterated their ongoing plan to push the re-opening of Kota Kinabalu International Airport Terminal 2 (KKIA2), where AirAsia formerly operated before its shift to KKIA Terminal 1 under the Transport Ministry's order. "We can do so much in KK if we can get Terminal 2 reopened, but I want to start developing Sandakan, Tawau as well as Sarawak. "The meeting with the CM was also to relay if we can get Terminal 2, we can grow to 15 million passengers (from the current eight million passengers), our estimate is to create 33,000 jobs and bring in RM150bil into Sabah's economy. It is such a waste to see the empty terminal. "If you move us back, it also allows Terminal 1 to bring in more airlines like Qatar Airways and Emirates, so you need to do this to release capacity," he added. Asked about the current development for such discussions, Tony said he remained optimistic and believed they are "making headway" as the Transport Ministry is opened to talks. Asked about Shafie's response to shifting AirAsia's operations back to Terminal 2, he said,"I think he is supportive, but the ball is in Malaysia Airports (court). It is something the state and federal level have to work out. "But one of the reasons why the idea was put (on the backburner) because there was talk about building a new airport in Kota Kinabalu. "But that would take five to seven years to materialise. That is why we continued the discussion about Terminal 2," he added. He said expanding the airport's capacity was crucial in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2020. AirAsia currently operates 511 weekly flights into Kota Kinabalu. Source: The Star Online
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16Oct

AirAsia’s ‘biggest giveaway’ offers 50 all-expenses-paid trips to Kota Kinabalu

AirAsia has launched its “biggest giveaway ever” in Singapore by putting up 50 all-expenses-paid trips to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia up for grabs. According to a press release, the giveaway is part of its ongoing Holiday Quickies campaign to persuade Singaporeans to pursue their work-life balance goal by indulging in short getaways. The giveaway will award 43 Singapore residents to an all-expenses-paid trip to Kota Kinabalu for two days, and another seven winners for a three-day trip. Participants can register for the giveaway via www.airasiaholidayquickies.com or AirAsia’s designated counter at Funan, Centre Stage from 16 to 17 October. The giveaway will commence on 17 October 2019, 6.30pm at Funan. Jointly sponsored by Sabah Tourism Board and Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, the giveaway encourages fans to participate and “experience the state’s adrenaline-pumping water activities, picturesque nature sites and sunset views”. AirAsia regional commercial head Amanda Woo said the Holiday Quickies campaign was launched to make it easy for everyone to go on a short, spontaneous vacation. “Staying true to our vision of ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’, we want Singaporeans to be able to experience a Holiday Quickie – take a weekend off and enjoy life with the people that matter by travelling together. We hope this giveaway will resonate with them and get them to pursue their desire to travel,” she explained. Source: marketing-interactive.com
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12Mar

Direct KK-Sulawesi flight soon

KOTA KINABALU: A direct flight from here to Manado, North Sulawesi, will soon become a reality next month or May, said Consul-General of Indonesia in Kota Kinabalu, Krishna Djelani. He said the proposed direct route, which was mooted by North Sulawesi Governor Olly DondoKambey last year, would boost the tourism industry in Sabah and North Sulawesi. Krishna said this to reporters after opening the North Sulawesi Tourism Office (NSTO) sales mission to Kota Kinabalu at the Consulate, here. He said Indonesia is currently awaiting the green light from the State Government to kick off the air connectivity. Manado is the second largest city on Sulawesi after Makassar. Olly paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and the Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew last November.“During the meeting, Olly raised a plan that would enhance and promote their respective tourism industries by opening a new direct flight route from here to Manado so that foreign tourists, especially from China, could also benefit.“Tourists can spend two to three days here and continue their holidays in Manado that also has eco-tourism attractions such as diving spot,” he said.AirAsia used to have a direct flight between Kuala Lumpur and Manado but has since stopped. North Sulawesi Province Tourism Head, Daniel Mewengkang, held a Table Top B2B (Business to Business) session, which was part of its two-day sales mission, with the local tourism players comprising members of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Sabah Chapter and Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) at the Indonesia Consulate here, recently. He said the sales mission was a follow-up action after the courtesy call by Olly to Shafie and Liew. Krishna said the proposed direct flight would use Malindo Air or Batik Air for both cities that would take two hours and 15 minutes from here to Manado and vice versa.“Manado and Kota Kinabalu  have similarities in terms of tourism aspects where both have marine tourism destinations, cultural tourism and natural tourism (eco-tourism) that are being promoted.“Foreign tourists, particularly from China and Korea, generally would spend their holidays here due to the marine tourism like enjoying themselves in the islands here and doing diving as well as snorkelling.“We also have all these tourism attractions and activities,” he said. On reviving the direct flight from here to Jakarta which was stopped last December, Krishna said there is a possibility to be looked into as the market is still there as many Malaysians, including in Sabah, often go to Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta. Source: Daily Express
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14Dec

Sabah, Sarawak expect to receive more tourists next year

TAWAU: Sabah is expected to receive more tourists following the launch of the Kuching-Tawau direct flights by Airasia starting yesterday. The inaugural Kuching-Tawau flight from Kuching International Airport was officiated by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister cum State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew. “The flights will help boost the number of tourist arrivals further,” she said. Besides, this new route launch came at the right time in line with the state government’s aspiration to promote East Coast Tourism with special emphasis on Tawau and the neighbouring districts (Semporna, Kunak Lahad Datu and Sandakan) as new tourism hubs,” she said in her officiating ceremony speech here. Airasia yesterday celebrated its maiden flight from Kuching to Tawau and becoming the only airline to connect the capital of Sarawak to the third largest city in Sabah. The aircraft departed with Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Airasia Director of Government Relations Zamani Rafique, and was greeted with a water cannon salute upon landing in Tawau Airport at 12.30 pm and received by Christina. Airasia is offering celebratory fares from as low RM49 until 15 Disember 2018 for either way from Kuching or Tawau. Meanwhile, Abdul Karim in his speech said that the new route would also benefit both destinations Tawau-Kuching under the Borneo Brand and further enhance the relationship between the two Malaysian states on Borneo Island. He said the opening of the new route was in line with the promotion for the Visit Sarawak Year 2019. At the same time, he said he would make thorough plans concerning the cooperation between his ministry and the Tourism Ministry in Sabah to promote the Borneo Brand tourism sector. Meanwhile, Zamani who represented Airasia Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Riat Asmat said the new service was part of Airasia’s continuing commitment to enhance air connectivity in east Malaysia. Zamani also announced that Airasia was offering FREE SEATS for flight from Kota Kinabalu-Sibu and Kota Kinabalu-Bintulu where the promotion starts from now until Dec 16, 2018 for travel period between Jan 1, 2019 and Feb 4, 2020. – Bernama Source : The Borneo Post
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