DARO: AirBorneo is poised to expand its regional connectivity to East Asia, including Jeju Island, South Korea as Sarawak moves to strengthen its aviation network and unlock greater tourism and economic opportunities.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state-owned airline would play a key role in attracting more visitors to Sarawak, particularly with the state’s growing number of tourism assets, including the UNESCO-recognised Delta Geopark.
He said improved air connectivity would create new opportunities for the tourism sector while allowing more visitors to explore destinations beyond major cities.
“Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, has requested that our aircraft fly to Jeju Island in Korea, which is a UNESCO Global Geopark,” he shared.
“So, once we have our own aircraft through AirBorneo, more tourists can come and our economy will also benefit. Insya-Allah, our aircraft will fly to Jakarta, the ASEAN region and also East Asia. We will no longer need to depend on other airlines because we now have our own.”
He said this during the Leaders’ Meet-the-People Programme for Daro State Constituency (N43) here today.
Abang Johari said AirBorneo would also serve as a platform to promote Sarawak’s identity and local products to passengers through locally sourced food and beverages.
“We will be serving nasi dabai on board the aircraft. Even the drinking water will use Sarawak’s own product, Orkid. All this is to showcase our state to passengers,” he added.
He opined that increased tourist arrivals would generate wider economic spillover effects for local communities.
“For example, tourists who come to Kuching can then travel to Daro to look for terubok eggs. This means businesses will grow with the arrival of tourists,” he said.
Abang Johari said the establishment of AirBorneo would also enable Sarawak to have greater control over its airline operations, including fare structures, destinations and passenger experience.
“One of AirBorneo’s objectives is to provide more affordable fares because when people want to go on holiday, ticket prices are always a consideration. If it is only one person, it may be manageable but if travelling with a wife and children, the cost will certainly be higher,” he added.
“That is why we have our own airline so that people can make plans to bring their families, whether travelling to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.”
