Kota Kinabalu Dec 31, 2011: Sabah Air Aviation Sdn Bhd (Sabah Air) disclosed Friday that it is ready to serve domestic and regional routes and is in the process of applying for the necessary approvals.
Its Chairman, Datuk Yusoff Datuk Haji Mohd Kasim, said Sabah Air has been working internally on a comprehensive plan to start a Scheduled Flight Service dedicated to the State and the region over the last three months.
He said the plan is in its final stages of maturity, adding that once the Board gives an "authority to proceed", Sabah Air will officially apply for the relevant approvals from the Department of Civil Aviation and Transport Ministry.
"The fountainhead of the plan is a three-pronged strategy to fill the gap created, especially in the tourism sector in the immediate aftermath of incumbent service providers possibly pulling out of certain sectors," he said, in a statement.
This pullout is expected to produce a massive backlash on the State's economy in the short to medium term, he said, adding Sabah Air has the necessary solution to address the long-term issues of international connectivity for the continued benefit of the State and its economy.
"This at the same time bring the long isolated rural areas of the State into the mainstream; logistically and economically," he said.
He said Sabah Air is working in tandem with Warisan Harta Sdn Bhd's current thinking on this matter, that is to find a practical and profitable long term solution.
Elaborating on Sabah Air's strategy, Yusoff said
Phase 1
- would involve addressing the immediate issues faced by passengers who had booked air flights but are facing potential cancellations due to service providers pulling out of these sectors.
- "Sabah Air is already in negotiations with potential Aircraft Lessors to fill the gap under the company's Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) - Charter on a Wet Lease Basis (Wet Lease means the company will lease aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance)," he said.
- Sabah Air is also in discussions with relevant authorities in the State tourism sector, both government and operators, to get an accurate picture of the tourism sector, their travel timelines and other respective details such as local destinations, etc. The information will be put to effective use to solve the problem at the earliest.
Phase 2
- will involve addressing the long term needs of the State in terms of connectivity to the relevant foreign destinations with a more permanent arrangement.
- He said Sabah Air will be effectively moving up the value chain to form a full-fledged airline to serve the East Malaysia region, and eventually the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and possibly beyond.
- "The main focus will be to provide an efficient logistical support for passengers and cargo, and connect this region to rest of the world," he said.
Phase 3
- will involve addressing the air connectivity issue for the rural interiors of Sabah, with a customised and localised cost effective solution and eventually duplicating the business model to other rural regions of East Malaysia.
- He said current rural air service is only addressing major towns in Sabah, while the rest of the actual rural regions in the State are still without any scheduled air connectivity.
- Sabah Air has developed a comprehensive plan to address this gap and bring these regions into the mainstream air connectivity pipeline, he said.
- This phase will be implemented on the back of an "out-of-the-box" Sabah specific strategy that is already developed by the company, and will be further elucidated to the public in the coming weeks after the necessary internal processes and approvals are completed.
"At this stage we can only reveal that it is a direct impact plan for the Rural Economic Transformation; create a pipeline for them to participate in the mainstream industry, thereby improving their socio-economic status and in support of the State Government's programme to reduce the poverty incidence in the State," he said.
It will also provide the backbone for decentralisation of the economy in general and bring about an ideal platform for implementing the concept of universal employment opportunities, he said.
The said plan will be duplicated to other rural regions once the Sabah Phase is successfully implemented, he said, adding Sabah Air is confident of the feasibility of the plan and its ability to provide universal air connectivity for the State.
"Sabah Air has the necessary experience and ability to solve this rapidly developing problem while consolidating its plan and execute the long term practical solution for the State.
We are strong in our conviction that all this can be achieved while staying true to the principle of inclusive development for all Sabahans," he said.
In view of this fast developing scenario for Sabah, the company is confident to serve the State profitably when all relevant landing rights in Seoul, Haneda, Osaka and Perth (to and fro Kota Kinabalu) are given to it, which MAS is currently in the process of giving up.
"Sabah Air is prepared to take over these routes and is making the necessary arrangements for the same to be activated as soon as the go-ahead is given," he said.
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BORNEO AIRLINES SYSTEM - BEST ?
Sabah mencadangkan sebuah syarikat penerbangan wilayah yang baru ditubuhkan untuk memenuhi keperluan penumpang yang meningkat di Sabah dan Sarawak.
syarikat penerbangan baru itu penting untuk memenuhi permintaan penumpang yang meningkat bagi penerbangan ke pelbagai destinasi domestik dan antarabangsa.
Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Sabah Datuk Masidi Manjun
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