30Oct

Zamboanga-KK flight from March 31

KOTA KINABALU: Philippine Airlines (PAL), the flag carrier of the Philippines, will begin its thrice-weekly flight from Zamboanga to Kota Kinabalu that will take one hour and forty-five minutes effective March 31, 2020.Announcing this Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew said this is good news for the business community, trading fraternity and leisure travellers.“I have been looking forward to this inaugural PAL flight from Zamboanga to Kota Kinabalu since the proposal  was made last year when a delegation paid a courtesy call on me. The move is timely as it ties in well with Visit Malaysia Year 2020,” she said in a statement issued here, after a courtesy call by the Chairman of BIMP-EAGA Malaysia Business Council (BEBC), Sabah Chapter, Carl Moosom. He was accompanied by the BEBC Head of Sabah for Socio-Cultural Education, Ting Yi Hang. Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, commended the Sabah Chapter for its initiative and persistence to ensure that the inaugural flight becomes a reality.Briefing the Minister on the flight schedule, Carl said it will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Zamboanga to Kota Kinabalu (8am-9.45am) and then from Kota Kinabalu to Zamboanga (10.45am-12.30pm). “PAL will be using the Bombardier 400 wd 86-seater aircraft,” he said.According to Liew, the aircraft will be given a water salute upon arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) on March 31, 2020 while its passengers will be given a traditional welcome by the Sabah Tourism Board’s (STB’s) cultural troupe.Also present were the Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, Hjh Mariam Omar Matusin, Principal Assistant Secretary, Mary Malangking, STB General Manager, Noredah Othman and Marketing Manager Bobby Alex. Source: Daily Express
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29Oct

Royal Brunei launches inaugural Sandakan flight

SANDAKAN: Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) on Monday launched its inaugural flight service from Bandar Seri Begawan to here. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, in his welcoming speech, said air connectivity is vital to enhance economic growth of Sandakan. He said according to the latest Malaysia Airports Bhd statistics, Sandakan Airport recorded a more than 10pc growth in the first quarter of this year. “I’m glad to see Sandakan Airport achieving such a significant and healthy growth rate. With the latest addition of Royal Brunei Airlines, I’m confident that the Sandakan Airport will continue to register positive growth.“In fact, I would even say that air connectivity and accessibility has become the single most important factor in influencing the growth of Sandakan’s economy. “In this regard, I would like to congratulate Royal Brunei Airlines for taking the bold step of launching this Bandar Seri Begawan-Sandakan route. This will certainly act as an enabler for both cities to forge closer ties, culturally and economically,” he said. His speech was read by Sandakan MP Vivian Wong. The six-time weekly Bandar Seri Begawan-Sandakan flight services uses a new ATR 72-600 aircraft operated by Malindo Air. Liew said he would also like to take the opportunity to urge all industry stakeholders, including Malaysia Airports, Sabah Tourism Board and Sandakan Tourism Association, to work closely with RBA to prove to all that Sandakan can and will sustain new international routes coming its way. “Tourism marketing has a relatively long lead time. We need to work closer together now to promote Sandakan more aggressively in order to get more people and more flights to our city,” he added. Also present were RBA’s Vice President of Government and International Relations, Rory Lou Teo, General Manager of Sabah Tourism, Noredah Othman, President of Sandakan Tourism Association, Teo Chee Kim, and Senior Manager of Routes Development for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Zainuddin Mohamed.The RBA flight carrying 72 passengers arrived at the Sandakan Airport at 2.15pm and was welcomed with a water cannon salute. Source: Sandakan
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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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06Mar

Tawau Airport expansion may start year end

PUTRAJAYA: Prospects are bright for the proposed expansion and development of the Tawau Airport to cater to the influx of tourists from China and other countries.Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Christina Liew, said this after an inaugural official meeting with the Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, at the Federal Government Administrative Centre, here, Monday.“The Tawau Airport is the second largest airport in Sabah after KKIA. I am glad to have met the Minister of Transport. We have had a fruitful discussion,” she said.During their discussion, she disclosed that in 2018, the Tawau Airport recorded 1.64 million passengers with 19.7pc growth, the fourth highest in terms of passenger growth after KLIA, Kota Kinabalu and Penang airports. “This means that the airport has exceeded its capacity of 1.4 million passengers commencing operations as a domestic airport in 2001.”Liew, who is Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said the ball is at Sabah’s feet and if everything goes smoothly as planned, commencement of works should take place by the end of the year.Loke concurred with the Sabah Minister that Tawau is the gateway to the eastern part of Sabah, especially to the world-class diving sites at Sipadan and Mabul off Semporna, and to the world-renowned Danum Valley in Lahad Datu. The East Coast of Sabah has a huge potential for tourism development.“Infrastructure development, especially for airports, will never go wrong. If your tourism product is there, it will even be easier. We (Government) are changing the whole landscape of the airport industry in the country. MAHB can have a Sabah cluster,” he said.Meanwhile, the Transport Minister expressed support for Liew’s suggestion for Visa On Arrival (VOS) for tourist arrivals from China and India within a specific period. He, however, is in favour of having Visa Free facility to ensure that foreign tourists from China, India and Korea are hassle-free when entering the country. Liew was accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, William Baya, Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Ken Pan Ying On and General Manager of STB, Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani. Also present were the Minister’s Private Secretary, Helen Muhammari, STB Senior Marketing Manager, Tay Shu Lan, MAHB Director (Stakeholder Relations & Regulatory Affairs), Datuk Abdullah Kadir Bacha and Senior General Manager (Commercial Services), Mohammad Nazli Abdul Aziz.Earlier, Liew met with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Group Chief Executive Officer, Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin at the Malaysia Airports Corporate Office at KLIA.Tawau tops the list of six airports in the country that have been earmarked for expansion and development.He assured Liew that he is committed to the Tawau Expansion and Development Proposal for implementation as soon as possible.Raja Azmi, who had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Minister in Sabah earlier, reiterated that the proposal encompasses upgrading of the facilities at the airport, provision of a surau, increasing the number of immigration counters and improving the existing toilets, among other measures. Source: Daily Express
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