‘Sabah needs own airline’

Sabah should have a new airline and a collaboration between Sabah Air and Royal Brunei could well be the answer.

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Airlines’ arbitrary decision to cancel its outgoing flights from Sabah to four international destinations is enough reason for the state state to have its own airline, according to opposition Sabah Sabah Progressive People’s Party (SAPP).

SAPP president Yong Teck Lee said the state government and Sabah Air Sdn Bhd, in particular, should look at setting up an alternative airline for Sabah.

The best option is to consider working with Royal Brunei Airlines, he added.

“This will be one way of resolving the ongoing airline service problem.

“If an airline were to emerge in Borneo, I would think the first airline to talk to is the Royal Brunei Airline, using Bandar Seri Bagawan as a hub,” Yong said.

According to Yong, Royal Brunei had such a plan.

“Royal Brunei always wanted passengers coming into Sabah and Sarawak to stop over in Brunei – which is already happening now – where people fly to London and Australia through Brunei.

“It is possible that Brunei can be the hub, where travellers can fly to Brunei, and then to Kota Kinabalu, instead of flying to Kuala Lumpur and then to Kota Kinabalu,” he said.

Not Sabah Air

Yong, a former Sabah chief minister, however, cautioned against Sabah Air going it alone and starting its own airpline.

“It’s too high a risk for Sabah Air to start its own airline. One miscalculation on the fuel prices will kill the company. It is the fuel prices that is causing problem to AirAsia today.

“Sabah Air is not suited as an airline to even fly within Sabah, as there are many risks and costs involved.

“I would be worried if Sabah Air today decides to buy aircrafts like Boeing 737 and Airbus.

“But there’s nothing wrong for Sabah Air to talk to Royal Brunei. Don’t worry about Kuala Lumpur; when we talk to Brunei, they will come, ” he told reporters at the launching of SAPP’s ts “Sabah Economic Plan” here on Sunday.

Yong described the “monopoly” of the nation’s air travel industry following the share-swap exercise between MAS and AirAsia last year, as a form of “collusion” between the two corporate bodies at the expense of Malaysians at large and Sabahans in particular.

He said the exercise has affected the state’s fledgling tourism industry, with the suspension of several international routes by MAS.