Zamboanga, Cebu and Davao to follow
October 19, 2012 |
| KOTA KINABALU: MASwings Sdn Bhd (MASwings) is aiming to fly to Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island in the Philippines by the first quarter of 2013 after it has successfully taken off to Bandar Seri Begawan of Brunei, Pontianak and Tarakan in Indonesia. |
Malaysia Airlines subsidiary MASwings will fly Puerto Princesa in the Philippines from Kota Kinabalu, says its Chief Commercial Officer, Shauqi Ahmad after launching flights to Brunei and Indonesia. It will be the airlines first destination in the Philippines and the route will be flown using ATR 72-500 planes.
The airline also intends to open additional destinations in Zamboanga, Davao and Cebu from Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan after launching flight to Puerto Princesa.
The airline also intends to open additional destinations in Zamboanga, Davao and Cebu from Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan after launching flight to Puerto Princesa.
Ahmad said they were just waiting approval from the Transport Ministry granting them permission to fly to UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan.
“This is our next plan for further expansion in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region, to achieve MASwings’ vision of becoming the most reputable and preferred airline in East Asia.” says Ahmad.
“We are looking at the positive way in this expansion planning, especially with the recent signing of the Framework Agreement for the Bangsamoro between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is good news for any airline companies,” he said.
MASwings aims to become an active regional player in BIMP-EAGA region.
“We believe this is within our reach following the introduction of the new BIMP-EAGA routes by linking out two major hubs Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, with Bandar Seri Begawan and Pontianak and from Tawau to Tarakan February this year,” Ahmad said.
He said the linkage has contributed significantly to the increasing number of MASwings passengers and help to boost tourist arrivals to Sabah and Sarawak.
MASwings operates a fleet of 14 aircraft from its base in Kota Kinabalu and Kutching in East Malaysia.It flies to 22 destinations across Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
