From DailyExpress : Published on: Thursday, May 10, 2012
Kota Kinabalu: MASwings plans to fly two new routes, namely Kota
Kinabalu-Puerto Princessa, Palawan and Kuching-Balikpapan, under its
second phase of expansion to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and
Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region.
This is apart from upgrading the existing Tawau-Tarakan thrice-weekly
flight services to daily services effective July 1 and introducing a
Coral Triangle Charter Flight for divers to world-class dive spots in
the State, Philippines and Indonesia within the Coral Triangle (Celebes
Sea).
These follow the encouraging response received from its first three
destinations in BIMP-EAGA, namely Tawau-Tarakan, Kuching-Pontianak and
Kota Kinabalu-Bandar Seri Bengawan, where altogether it has recorded a
load factor average of 60-65 per cent. Its CEO Datuk Captain Mohd Nawawi
Haji Awang, who announced this, said they expect to start flying the
new Kuching-Balikpapan route, which would be thrice weekly, by the end
of October.
"We are in the process of seeking approvals and clearances from the
Philippine Government for the KK-Puerto Princessa route Éif everything
goes well, we plan to start this new route by the end of October," he
said, adding they are all very excited with these new developments.
They are also looking at aircraft utilisation aspects and adjusting
timing and so on in preparing for the changes to the Tawau-Tarakan
flight service schedules. The company might also increase the number of
its aircraft if the need arises.
Mohd Nawawi said this at a press conference in conjunction with the
MASwings BIMP-EAGA Golf Challenge 2012 at the MAS administration
building in Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), Wednesday.
He said the Coral Triangle Charter Flight plan is still at a proposal
stage, adding MASwings needs to have collaboration with the Malaysian,
Indonesia and Philippines tourism authorities in introducing this
package for divers to come to the world-class dive spots within the
Celebes Sea.
"We plan to have scheduled charter flights for divers at the three
world-class diving spots, each in the respective country, under one
package," he said, adding they plan to have this on a weekly basis.
According to the plan, divers would first fly to Sabah where they would
be brought to Sipadan island and after three to four days they would
proceed to Davao in Philippines and then to Manado in Sulawesi,
Indonesia.
"This is very much in the planning stage with the Sabah Tourism Board
(STB) leading the processÉwe have set a six-month timeframe for this to
materialise," he said.
The tourism authorities of the other countries concerned are also excited about the plan, he said.
Mohd Nawawi also commented on MASwings achievement on being named the
Best MH Auxiliary Business Subsidiary Platinum Award winner Tuesday,
outshining the other Malaysia Airlines business subsidiaries.
"This is something the Sabah and Sarawak communities can reflect upon
because it shows that the company which has nearly 100 per cent of its
staff from Sabah and Sarawak can really make it happen," he said, adding
it also shows that MASwings is truly the community airline for the
people of Sabah, Sarawak and BIMP-EAGA.
The company has 1,300 staff, of whom about 90 per cent are from Sabah
and Sarawak, and Mohd Nawawi also pledged to bring in jets in its fleet
of aircraft once its second phase of expansion has successfully achieved
its objective by next year.
MASwings carried over 20,000 passengers within several months of flying to the BIMP-EAGA destinations.
Meanwhile, Mohd Nawawi said some 200 golfers from the BIMP-EAGA region
are expected to take part in MASwings' inaugural golf tournament that
will tee-off at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club Miri, Sarawak, on
May 27.
Besides reinforcing its presence and entrance into the BIMP-EAGA region
and marking the beginning of MASwings' involvement in staging and
organising an event of grand scale in the said region, the friendly
tournament is also for the Miri city's anniversary celebration.
The tournament provides three different categories - open individual,
team event and VIP/guest category, he said, adding champions of the
tournament will carry MASwings BIMP-EAGA Golf Challenge 2012 trophies,
MASwings hole-in-one prizes which include 10 business class tickets on
MASwings destinations, lucky draws and novelty prizes.
He said MASwings has also reintroduced its Golf Escapade promotion that
covers extensive prestige packages for golfers all over the world.
It is to help promote golf tourism within the region.
The package will create the opportunity for business golfers to travel
and play golf at an attractive price within Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and
Indonesia.
Customers would enjoy a return flight, hotel accommodation for three
days two nights or two days one night stay with daily breakfast and
return transfer.
Interested golfers can make their booking online via MASwings official website www.maswings.com.my.
The booking options are made convenient for golf enthusiasts when
selecting their preferred courses, destinations and hotels.
