KUCHING: AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd (AirBorneo) is expected to receive three Boeing B737-800 aircraft by July as it gears up to start jet operations in the third quarter of this year.
According to a national news portal, the aircraft would be operated under a wet lease arrangement with Ascend Airways Malaysia (AAM) a Malaysian-registered aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) provider.
The pilots and cabin crew who would operate the aircraft are believed to be currently undergoing training in preparation for the launch of the jet services.
AAM is a sister company of the UK-based Ascend Airways. Both companies are part of Avia Solutions Group (ASG), the world’s largest ACMI provider.
The move is understood to be part of ASG’s broader strategy to expand its ACMI presence in Southeast Asia as airlines increasingly turn to wet leasing to quickly secure additional capacity without committing to long-term aircraft purchases.
AirBorneo is also understood to be developing its in-flight entertainment offering, which is expected to include personalised and curated content as part of its product differentiation strategy.
The offerings are expected to be so exclusive that even the economy class passengers would feel like they are flying business class.
Both AirBorneo and AAM declined to comment on the arrangement when contacted, stating that further details will be disclosed once confirmed.
“There is no additional comment, and we will reveal any details once they are confirmed,” AirBorneo said to the news portal.
AAM also said it could not comment on the wet lease arrangements and would share updates when it is able to do so.
AirBorneo chief executive officer Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin told Aviation Week in February this year that the airline is evaluating ACMI solutions to support the launch of its jet operations, initially with three aircraft.
Earlier this month, he further indicated that AirBorneo plans to launch jet operations from Kuching in July using three B737-800 aircraft with initial routes from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Kota Kinabalu.
Megat Ardian said the introduction of jet services will mark the airline’s next phase of growth following the takeover of MASwings Sdn Bhd operations earlier this year.
If finalised, the wet lease arrangement would also mark a significant step in ASG’s expansion in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, where airlines are increasingly adopting ACMI solutions to manage capacity and manage operational flexibility.
ASG founder and chairman, Lithuanian-born Gediminas Žiemelis, previously said Southeast Asia’s growing aviation market is a key driver for the group’s ACMI expansion, with Malaysia positioned as a key market for its global fleet deployment strategy.
