MASWings to the rescue

KUALA LUMPUR – MASWings, Malaysia Airlines’ new outfit, which takes over the country’s rural air services (RAS) from Fly Asian Express (FAX) from next month, is promising more services and flights to new sectors.

MAS originally operated the RAS but handed it over to FAX, an associate company of low-cost carrier AirAsia, under the domestic routes rationalisation programme in August last year.

Since then technical difficulties had hounded FAX, leading to flight delays and cancellations. This in turn resulted in a number of overseas tour operators cancelling their tours to the famed Mulu Caves as flights to Miri, the gateway city to this popular tourist attraction, were often disrupted. Additionally, the lives of people living in the remote villages served by the RAS were made more difficult as essential supplies failed to reach them.

In the face of numerous complaints from the people, as well as from the Sarawak Tourism Board, Sabah Tourism, tour operators and hoteliers alike on the adverse effects on the tourism industry, the Malaysian government, earlier this year, asked MAS to take back the RAS.

MAS then decided to form a separate entity, MASWings, with its own management team to take back the RAS’ operations.

MASWings managing director Dr Amin Khan said the airline wanted to resolve the air connectivity woes in the two states by increasing flights frequency, improving timing, and also efficiency.

In line with this the airline will operate 193 flights per week across 21 destinations in Sarawak and Sabah. Of these, 113 flights will be to destinations served by the 50-seater Fokker 50 aircraft and the remaining 80 flights to sectors serviced by the 19-seater Twin Otters.

Sectors in Sarawak and Sabah that will have additional services are Miri-Limbang (from 14 flights weekly to 21), Miri-Bintulu (seven to 21), Miri-Sibu (seven to 28), and Kuching-Bintulu, Kuching-Sibu, Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan and Sandakan-Tawau.

MASWings also added in new sector previously not serviced by MASWings. These include Kota Kinabalu-Miri and Kota Kinabalu-Bintulu.

The airline will initially operate with four 50-seater Fokker 50 and four 19-seater Twin Otter aircraft. Its fleet size will be increased to seven Fokker 50 and five Twin Otter aircraft from October 28, and eight Fokker 50 and five Twin Otter aircraft by December 1.

Cabin crew services will be available on all Fokker 50 flights.

There will also be interlining services on participating airlines to allow customers to check-in all the way to their final destinations with just one ticket.

Dr Amin said MASWings would cater to both the intra and inter-state air travel needs of Sarawak and Sabah, as well as enhancing air connectivity for the rest of the world to the two states.

Sarawak Tourism Board’s Chief Executive Officer Gracie Geikie said a number of overseas tour operators had indicated they would reinstate the Mulu Caves/National Park and other destinations such as Sibu, a fast growing tourist city and the entry point to the Pelagus Rapids, into their programmes.

Tour operators in Sabah are also promoting destinations that MASWings will fly to including Lahad Datu, gateway to the pristine Danum Valley, and Sandakan, home to the famous Orangutan Rehabilitation Sanctuary.