Malaysia launches new airline following year of disasters
A new airline is about to be launched by the Malaysia government to connect the Malaysia peninsula with other parts of south east Asia.
It revealed today that it has signed a deal to buy 20 Bombardier CS100 aicraft, with 125 seats each, to fly from Kota Kinabalu on the island of Borneo, a popular destination for adventure tourism, and from Johor Bahru in the south. It has options to buy a further 20 aircraft.
The new airline, to be called flymojo, is expected to start operating in October this year.
Its launch, announced at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), comes a year after state-controlled Malaysia Airlines was hit by two disasters: the disappearance of flights MH370 en route to Beijing and the gunning down of flight MH17 over Ukraine.
Another Malaysian airline, AirAsia, crashed into the Indian Ocean during a flight to Singapore last December.
Speaking at the launch, Malaysia deputy minister of transport Aziz Kaprawi said: “The announcement of a new airline in Malaysia is an exciting way to kick off LIMA.
“With flymojo’s primary hub at Senai International Airport, Johor and secondary hub in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, the airline’s ultra-modern fleet of CS100 aircraft will play a key role in improving connectivity between the Peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak, as well as other parts of the region.
“In addition, as the only airline utilizing the Southern Corridor as its headquarters, flymojo will transform Senai into a key regional aviation and logistics hub – augmenting the government’s initiatives in developing Iskandar Malaysia and the Southern Corridor. Further strengthening Kota Kinabalu’s standing as a gateway into Malaysia, flymojo will also boost tourism into Sabah and Sarawak
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026