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THE Sarawak government is concerned about the impending reductions in flights by Malaysia Airlines and Firefly.
State Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, said today that his ministry has received information regarding these upcoming flight reductions.
"We have heard that the national airlines are planning to reduce the number of flights from now until the end of this year.
"Indications are that these flight reductions will affect not only international routes but also many domestic destinations.
"We are worried about the impact of these flight reductions on Sarawak.
"Given our logistical challenges, we rely on flights from Sarawak to other states and to the outside world.
"Within Sarawak, we also need air travel due to the state's vast size.
"Any major reduction in flights will have a serious impact on the state and its people," he said.
Snowdan urged the national airlines to consult the relevant ministries and sectors before making any drastic cuts in flight numbers.
He noted that the national airlines have indicated that the impending flight reductions are due to technical and cost issues.
"Sarawak needs plenty of flights not just for tourism and business but also for social, educational, medical reasons, and others," he said, adding that flights are a basic necessity for Sarawak.
Cities like Kuching and Miri are among the top six busiest airports in the country in terms of daily passenger volume. – August 30, 2024.