KUCHING: AirBorneo will adopt an organic growth strategy as it develops into a strategic player in Sarawak’s services sector, with the state-owned airline set to gradually expand its network based on market demand and operational capacity.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said AirBorneo would not only serve as an air transportation provider but also play a bigger role in supporting Sarawak’s economic development through improved logistics and connectivity.
“I want to grow this airline organically. Organic growth, and it will become one of the strategic sectors in the services industry,” he said during his keynote address at the launch of AirBorneo’s inaugural Kuching-Kuala Lumpur flight at Kuching International Airport here today (July 20).
He said the airline’s expansion would take into consideration market needs and its strategic role in strengthening Sarawak’s connectivity, rather than pursuing rapid growth without proper planning.
He added AirBorneo’s first international flight to Singapore on July 22, in conjunction with Sarawak Day, would mark an important step in expanding the state’s air connectivity beyond Malaysia.
“To fly outside Malaysia, insya-Allah, on July 22, our Sarawak Day, we will fly to Singapore.
“After that, within four to five months, our aircraft will increase to four. From two to four, pray for us. Then we can connect our network to other areas,” he said.
He said the increase in aircraft numbers from two to four would enable AirBorneo to gradually expand its flight network and connect Sarawak with more destinations.
Abang Johari said AirBorneo’s development would be similar to how successful aviation players had grown over time, citing Emirates Airline as an example of how the aviation industry could transform the economic landscape of a region.
He said Dubai, which was once merely a transit point for travellers heading to London in the late 1970s, had since become a global economic hub through the growth and management of Emirates Airline.
“I have mentioned before, in the late 1970s, I used to travel to Dubai. Dubai had nothing much then. It was just a transit point to London.
“But today, you can see Dubai because of Emirates Airline and how they managed the airline,” he said.
Abang Johari said he hoped Sarawak could achieve a higher level of economic development beyond 2030 through AirBorneo’s growth, supported by the state’s natural resources and investment in human capital.
He said Sarawak had an advantage compared to Dubai as the state possessed abundant resources as well as a workforce developed through its education policies.
“We have resources. We have prepared Sarawak’s children through our education policies. This means our level of economic development will become higher.
“We are no longer moving conventionally; we are exploring uncharted areas, something new,” he said.
He added that the combination of Sarawak’s resources and stronger logistics connectivity through AirBorneo could open up greater opportunities for the state and the wider Borneo region in the future.
