Sarawak cuts incoming flights amid surge in Covid-19 cases

 

Each airline will be given a different time slot for them to achieve better passenger loads. (Bernama pic)

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has reduced the number of flights into the state starting tomorrow, partly because of a spike in Covid-19 cases, said state transport minister Lee Kim Shin.

The approved number of weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching is reduced to only 13 compared to 28 arrivals previously.

The approved weekly flight arrivals from Kuala Lumpur to Miri have been reduced from 19 to four; from Kuala Lumpur to Bintulu, 10 to four; while from Kuala Lumpur to Sibu from five to two.

He said other reasons for this move are the limited number of hotel rooms available for quarantine purposes and the imposition of movement control order restrictions in Sibu, Kuching and Miri.

Lee said this decision was made at the state Disaster Management Committee meeting yesterday.

“This was made based on various reasons, such as the CMCO in Kuching and Miri that have been declared as red zones from Jan 13 until Jan 26. In addition, starting Jan 16 until Jan 29, the MCO will be enforced in Sibu division,” he said in a statement today.

To help airlines weather this challenging period of the pandemic, each airline will be given a different flight timing for them to achieve better passenger loads, he added.

He said information on the approved flight schedule had been disseminated to the public through social media.

“Members of the public are also strongly advised to book or purchase their flight tickets based on the latest approved flight schedule.

“They can also check the latest flight schedule at the transport ministry at mot.sarawak.gov.my,” he added.

He said his ministry had informed MAS, AirAsia, Malindo and MasWings on Jan 14 on the approved flights into Sarawak. - FMT