‘Air Borneo must deploy more ground personnel to assist affected passengers with refunds, compensation claims and alternative flight arrangements.’
KUCHING: The Sarawak government must expedite its plans to lease additional aircraft to make state-owned Air Borneo more reliable and reduce the growing number of flight cancellations and lengthy delays affecting passengers, according to Sibu MP Oscar Ling.
Ling said the acquisition of leased aircraft should be treated as an immediate priority, noting that Air Borneo currently operates only 14 small and medium-sized aircraft serving routes across Sarawak and Sabah.
“With several aircraft undergoing unscheduled technical inspections and others grounded for scheduled maintenance, the shortage of aircraft is causing major disruptions in both Sarawak and Sabah.
“The leasing of additional aircraft must be treated as a top priority, even in the short term,” he said in a statement.
Ling also called for greater assistance to passengers affected by cancellations and delays.
“Air Borneo must deploy more ground personnel to assist affected passengers with refunds, compensation claims and alternative flight arrangements,” he said.
State leaders and Air Borneo management have apologised to passengers affected by the recent wave of cancellations and prolonged delays involving routes across Sarawak and Sabah.
Since last week, passengers have been hit by widespread disruptions, with some unscheduled delays reportedly lasting up to two days. Frustrated travellers in both states have taken to social media to vent their dissatisfaction.
Air Borneo previously said several of its aircraft had been withdrawn from service for unscheduled maintenance, while others were already undergoing scheduled works. The airline warned that further delays and cancellations could occur in the coming days.
Earlier, on June 6, social activist Peter John Jaban warned that the airline’s operational problems were worsening.
He said Air Borneo should prioritise improving flight connectivity and addressing high airfares, stressing that air travel in Sarawak and Sabah is a necessity rather than a luxury.
He added that affordable fares and dependable daily flights are matters of social justice for the people of Sarawak and Sabah, and urged the airline to focus on domestic operations before pursuing international routes.
On June 5, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg acknowledged the ongoing problems and appealed for patience from the public, saying Air Borneo needed more time to resolve issues relating to connectivity and rising airfares.
In recent weeks, demand for flights between major destinations in Sarawak has outstripped available capacity, leaving many passengers struggling to secure seats and facing significantly higher fares.
