KUCHING: AirBorneo plans to begin regional jet operations in July this year under its second phase expansion, with Kuching set to serve as the airline’s main hub for the new service.
Its chief executive officer Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin said the airline intends to launch the regional service using jet aircraft, while maintaining turboprop operations in Kota Kinabalu and Miri.
“We are now moving into Phase 2 of our development. In July this year, we aim to begin regional flights from our base in Kuching. Kota Kinabalu and Miri will continue to serve as turboprop hubs, while Kuching will become the hub for jet operations,” he said when met by reporters during an iftar event with members of the media on Monday.
Megat said the airline plans to begin the service with three wet-leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which will operate to several domestic and regional destinations, which include Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Singapore.
“We are still in the process of securing the necessary approvals and flight slots, but at this stage we have likely identified one international regional destination and two domestic destinations,” he said.
He added that once the initial operations stabilise, more routes will gradually be introduced.
“About three months after the launch, when the operations have stabilised, we plan to add more regional destinations. By the end of 2026, we are looking at operating to about three domestic destinations and three international destinations, depending on slot availability,” he said.
Megat noted that the airline is currently working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and other stakeholders to finalise regulatory approvals and operational preparations ahead of the launch.
“Right now, our focus is on securing the regulatory approvals, working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and our stakeholders, and ensuring that the customer experience is ready, from our products and branding to marketing,” he said.
He added that the airline is also putting in place its commercial and operational frameworks, including revenue management, network planning, sales and distribution.
“All of this is a work in progress at the moment. We are making sure everything is ready operationally from the start,” he said.
Megat said further details on routes, schedules and expansion plans will be announced once the airline receives clearer approvals and flight slot allocations in the coming months.
Earlier, he noted that the airline had focused on stabilising operations following its takeover of MASwings on Jan 1, including transferring all staff to AirBorneo and ensuring continuity of services.
“Over the past two and a half months until mid-March, we have carried close to 100,000 passengers. Our on-time performance (OTP) has been healthy at around 89 to 90 per cent, and we have also received positive feedback from passengers,” he said.
Megat added that AirBorneo has also signed an agreement to acquire eight new ATR 72-600 aircraft, which will gradually replace the current ATR 72-500 fleet starting from 2027 to improve passenger comfort and operational efficiency.
