KUALA LUMPUR: AirBorneo is more than just a new airline. It is a strategic investment aimed at strengthening Sarawak’s economy, attracting foreign investment and positioning the state as a major regional economic hub.
Describing the state-owned carrier as an “air bridge”, he said it would connect Sarawak with the rest of Malaysia and neighbouring countries at a time when the state is attracting increasing international investment.
“We are on an island and you cannot expect people to swim across the South China Sea. So,we treat AirBorneo as an air bridge,” he told reporters after arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) onboard AirBorneo’s inaugural flight to Kuala Lumpur today (July 20).
Abang Johari said the airline would operate under a different business model from conventional commercial carriers.
He said the state government would contribute towards certain fixed costs, while daily operations would continue to be managed on commercial principles.
“This is the Sarawak model. We regard AirBorneo as an investment to strengthen our economic activities,” he said.
Abang Johari pointed out that Sarawak had attracted growing investments in renewable energy, semiconductor manufacturing and advanced industries, making efficient air connectivity increasingly critical for investors and business travellers.
Among the state’s recent achievements, he highlighted Western Digital’s adoption of next-generation glass-based data storage technology in Sarawak and increasing investments from Japan and South Korea.
He also noted that the World Economic Forum had recognised Bintulu as an emerging low-carbon industrial cluster.
“Improved air connectivity would complement these investments by making Sarawak more accessible to businesses and international visitors,” he said.
Looking ahead, Abang Johari said Sarawak hoped to emulate the success of Dubai, which transformed itself into a global aviation hub through Emirates.
He said Dubai had once been merely a transit point before strategically investing in its national airline and aviation sector to drive economic growth.
“Sarawak has the resources and strengths to do something similar,” he said.
Abang Johari said the state’s long-term aspiration was to become the “Bavaria of Malaysia”—a reference to Germany’s strongest economic region.
He also said AirBorneo formed an important part of that long-term strategy by providing the connectivity needed to support investment, tourism and regional integration across ASEAN.
“If Bavaria is an important economic powerhouse within Germany, we want Sarawak to play a similar role in strengthening Malaysia’s economy,” he said.
