Kota Kinabalu: Sabah can expect to have its own airline up and running by next year if everything goes to plan, according to Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd (SAASB) Chairman Kenny Chua.
He said lease for three aircraft – not limited to Airbus or Boeing – would be signed before year end.
“Old Sabah used to rely too much on federal funding but now we are on par with Sarawak. Although they could be a few steps ahead, at least we are on the same path.
“Negotiations are happening in stages. Who knows, we may even launch earlier than Sarawak,” he said, referring to Sarawak’s current negotiations to acquire MasWings.
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“We are just thankful that foreign investments have been lucrative for Sabah under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, enabling us to fly further,” he told Daily Express.
He said SAASB before Hajiji assumed office was burdened with financial constraints and lacked clear direction.
“But Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is firm on the idea of promoting Sabah as the Borneo hub.
“We need our own airline and our own cargo terminal hub. We have the licensing, the aviation engineers, the pilots and our own airports. Nothing can hold us back anymore,” he said.
Kenny said Sabah Airlines, Air Borneo or Borneo Airlines are the three potential names but it’s up to the Board and Hajiji.
He said SAASB revenues have soared after taking full control of Petronas Carigali airlift services for Sabah and Labuan.
Previously, he said, the business was monopolised by Malayan companies while SAASB was reduced to being mere sub-contractors.
On the airline, Kenny said they would follow a low cost business model that is competitive enough to go against existing operators. The very lucrative KL-KK route is now served by MAS, Firefly, Airasia and MyAir.
“Sabahans, especially students and civil servants, will get discounted prices on Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu flights.
That’s the best part, besides of course, thousands of job opportunities for locals.
“I know some good aviation engineers and pilots from Papar and Penampang, most of whom are women. Won’t you be proud as a Sabahan to have them serving their own State?
“Initial plans are nightly schedules, 10pm flights for example, as air traffic is clear meaning cheaper flights.
“So many times Sabahans have been made to suffer during peak seasons. We will strive to help the low and middle income earners and become more like Sarawak in looking after their own,” he said.
He also said SAASB is in the process of taking over the Air Asia Terminal 2 in Tanjung Aru to be repurposed into a cargo terminal.
“But there are land issues to be resolved before all cargo can be centralised there. We are looking at three months before construction can commence,” he said.
Kenny added that a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre is another important development in Sabah’s aviation industry as the three most active MROs in South East Asia are in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Philippines.
“If Sabah wants to become the hub for Borneo then it’s no question. A lot of planes will come in for servicing here.
“They will because Sabah will offer competitive prices. This will greatly benefit us especially when Indonesia will soon be moving its capital just next door.”
He advised locals not to fret over the Kimanis airport relocation unless they prefer stagnation.
“It will benefit us…understand that we are restricted because the current airport is located in the middle of our city.
“The aim for Sabah despite changes in government is to become a cosmopolitan city shining in the eyes of the world.
“Government feasibility studies conducted estimate the relocation to take 5-10 years, and that’s in terms of budgeting only.
“Then there are also soil issues which could take longer. If we don’t move then we cannot build high rise buildings or develop into something greater than what we are now,” he said.
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