AirAsia Targets 2 Mln Passengers To Sabah This Year

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 1 -- Low-cost airline AirAsia Bhd expects the number of passengers on its flights to Sabah to surpass its previous record of 1.8 million last year to over 2 million this year.

Its chairman Datuk Aziz Bakar said with 90 per cent of transportation to Sabah via air, it was a crucial destination for AirAsia, with Sabah viewed as a gateway for trade, investment and tourism.

"AirAsia has also assisted in generating various economic opportunities here since its service was launched in Sabah six years ago," he said at the launching of the inaugural AirAsia Kota Kinabalu-Singapore route at Terminal 2 of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, here.

Today also saw the maiden flight for the new route, one of the two new flights from East Malaysia to Singapore launched by AirAsia. The Kuching-Singapore route also commenced today.

The new service, which is expected to address the high demand for air travel between Singapore and East Malaysia, is already proving to be popular with over 10,000 seats quickly sold out since it opened for sale on Oct 21, according to Aziz.

AirAsia will have daily flights for this route with the flight departing from Kota Kinabalu at 6.40pm while the flight from Singapore departs at 9.35pm.

Asked whether AirAsia would consider adding more flights for the Kota Kinabalu-Singapore route, Aziz said this would be considered when there was a demand.

"The route is also expected to bring in more international tourists through Singapore," he added.

Meanwhile, the number of Singaporeans visiting Sabah is expected to increase to 22,000 from 18,000 last year, especially after the launching of the new route and with Jetstar Singapore expected to launch its flight to Kota Kinabalu this month.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, in a speech text read by the Assistant Minister Bolkiah Ismail, highlighted that from January to August this year, Sabah had received 10,624 tourists from Singapore, a slight decrease from 11,659 arrivals in the same period last year.

"The slight decrease may be due to the current economic crisis and rising cost of travelling, but we are optimistic of drawing 22,000 Singaporean tourists to Sabah by the year end," said Masidi.