MASwings takes off today

MIRI: Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) subsidiary MASwings will take to the skies today under great expectations from the people of Sarawak, especially the tourism industry, which would now have no excuses not to work harder for the State.

The industry is hopeful that MASwings will solve the uncertainties that they faced, particularly in promoting destinations served by the rural air service (RAS) in Sarawak.
Much of this optimism lies in MAS’ experience with the RAS service before the rationalisation of domestic air services last year. As part of the rationalisation exercise, Fly Asian Express (FAX) operated the RAS from August last year.

Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president, Wee Hong Seng, told The Borneo Post yesterday: “We have high hopes for Maswings. I believe this is the moment all tourism members are looking forward to.

“They (MASwings) are going back to the same routes that MAS had mastered before. We hope that they will not only maintain what they have taken over from FAX, but they will also improve on their connections.”

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will launch MASwings’ inaugural flight in Mulu this morning, where he will also unveil its logo. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy is also expected to be at the event.

The STF had been very vocal about the problems faced by the industry because of air accessibility in the State. Travellers faced with cancellations, delays and lack of interlining between flights.

Wee thanked the State Urbanisation and Tourism Ministry for its efforts in solving the air accessibility woes and also for being receptive to STF’s complaints and recommendations.
He was also pleased that in the run-up to the launching of MASwings, the company had sought the views of both the private and public sectors, and it had given the assurance that its doors will always be open to them.

“Before the implemention of their operations, they have the collective view from the tourism industry people. They talk to the top people and the people on the ground, because of that I am confident that not much will go wrong.

“If there is anything the industry wants to be improved, they have stated that they will give their full assistance,” said Wee.

Asked what MASwings can learn from Sarawak’s past experience, he replied: “I think they have seen how the industry had suffered. Learning from each other is the key thing. Whatever it is, we are in this together.”

In this respect, he said the industry members must now work harder to regain the ground that Sarawak had lost. He conceded that the industry, particularly in the State’s northern region, had suffered huge losses.

“We should now take up the opportunity to sell hard; no more excuses. Now we cannot say we have this and that problems. Everybody should work hard to push to gain lost ground,” Wee said.

When asked what STF had done to boost tourism in the State’s northern region, he said that it had last year signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sabah Tourist Association to introduce the “concept of sharing tourism.”

He said that under the MoU the association’s members in Sabah would promote Sarawak to tourists that they could not accommodate. Having said that, Wee believed that with the improved air accessibility in Sarawak, the Borneo Package can be revived once Royal Brunei Airlines resume its service in the State. The package was disrupted when the airline ceased operating in the State. MASwings is Malaysia’s first commuter airline service, which would cater both the intra and interstate air travel needs of East Malaysia. It is expected to commence operation with four Fokker 50 and four Twin Otters.

This would serve a network of 23 destinations in East Malaysia as well as the Federal territory of Labuan. The number of aircrafts would then add up by October 28 to seven Fokker 50 and five Twin Otters.

The Borneo Post