Kota Kinabalu: MASwings plans to fly two new routes, namely Kota Kinabalu-Puerto Princessa, Palawan and Kuching-Balikpapan, under its second phase of expansion to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region. This is apart from upgrading the existing Tawau-Tarakan thrice-weekly flight services to daily services effective July 1 and introducing a Coral Triangle Charter Flight for divers to world-class dive spots in the State, Philippines and Indonesia within the Coral Triangle (Celebes Sea).
These follow the encouraging response received from its first three destinations in BIMP-EAGA, namely Tawau-Tarakan, Kuching-Pontianak and Kota Kinabalu-Bandar Seri Bengawan, where altogether it has recorded a load factor average of 60-65 per cent. Its CEO Datuk Captain Mohd Nawawi Haji Awang, who announced this, said they expect to start flying the new Kuching-Balikpapan route, which would be thrice weekly, by the end of October.
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"We are in the process of seeking approvals and clearances from the Philippine Government for the KK-Puerto Princessa route Éif everything goes well, we plan to start this new route by the end of October," he said, adding they are all very excited with these new developments.
They are also looking at aircraft utilisation aspects and adjusting timing and so on in preparing for the changes to the Tawau-Tarakan flight service schedules. The company might also increase the number of its aircraft if the need arises.
Mohd Nawawi said this at a press conference in conjunction with the MASwings BIMP-EAGA Golf Challenge 2012 at the MAS administration building in Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), Wednesday.
He said the Coral Triangle Charter Flight plan is still at a proposal stage, adding MASwings needs to have collaboration with the Malaysian, Indonesia and Philippines tourism authorities in introducing this package for divers to come to the world-class dive spots within the Celebes Sea.
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"We plan to have scheduled charter flights for divers at the three world-class diving spots, each in the respective country, under one package," he said, adding they plan to have this on a weekly basis.
According to the plan, divers would first fly to Sabah where they would be brought to Sipadan island and after three to four days they would proceed to Davao in Philippines and then to Manado in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
"This is very much in the planning stage with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) leading the processÉwe have set a six-month timeframe for this to materialise," he said.
The tourism authorities of the other countries concerned are also excited about the plan, he said.
Mohd Nawawi also commented on MASwings achievement on being named the Best MH Auxiliary Business Subsidiary Platinum Award winner Tuesday, outshining the other Malaysia Airlines business subsidiaries.
"This is something the Sabah and Sarawak communities can reflect upon because it shows that the company which has nearly 100 per cent of its staff from Sabah and Sarawak can really make it happen," he said, adding it also shows that MASwings is truly the community airline for the people of Sabah, Sarawak and BIMP-EAGA.
The company has 1,300 staff, of whom about 90 per cent are from Sabah and Sarawak, and Mohd Nawawi also pledged to bring in jets in its fleet of aircraft once its second phase of expansion has successfully achieved its objective by next year.
MASwings carried over 20,000 passengers within several months of flying to the BIMP-EAGA destinations.
Meanwhile, Mohd Nawawi said some 200 golfers from the BIMP-EAGA region are expected to take part in MASwings' inaugural golf tournament that will tee-off at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club Miri, Sarawak, on May 27.
Besides reinforcing its presence and entrance into the BIMP-EAGA region and marking the beginning of MASwings' involvement in staging and organising an event of grand scale in the said region, the friendly tournament is also for the Miri city's anniversary celebration.
The tournament provides three different categories - open individual, team event and VIP/guest category, he said, adding champions of the tournament will carry MASwings BIMP-EAGA Golf Challenge 2012 trophies, MASwings hole-in-one prizes which include 10 business class tickets on MASwings destinations, lucky draws and novelty prizes.
He said MASwings has also reintroduced its Golf Escapade promotion that covers extensive prestige packages for golfers all over the world.
It is to help promote golf tourism within the region.
The package will create the opportunity for business golfers to travel and play golf at an attractive price within Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia.
Customers would enjoy a return flight, hotel accommodation for three days two nights or two days one night stay with daily breakfast and return transfer.
Interested golfers can make their booking online via MASwings official website www.maswings.com.my.
The booking options are made convenient for golf enthusiasts when selecting their preferred courses, destinations and hotels.
