Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) direct flights from Narita, Japan to Kota Kinabalu officially resumed on Tuesday.The flight was greeted with a water salute by the Airport Fire and Rescue Service of Malaysia Airport Berhad while passengers of the returning flight were given a traditional welcome by Sabah Tourism Board (STB).
MAS Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Captain Izham Ismail said the reinstated Kota Kinabalu-Narita service adds on to the airline’s existing connectivity to Japanese cities.
“With this resumption, travellers now have the option to travel to Japan via Sabah, which remains a key tourist destination and valuable connectivity hub for us together with its sister airlines Firefly and MASwings,” he said in a statement, Tuesday.
Izham said the reopening of borders this year have significantly ramped up capacity, increased frequencies to key markets, including India, Australia and our London flagship route.
Additionally, he said, new direct flights to Haneda, Japan and Doha, Qatar were introduced to stimulate tourism and ease connectivity for travellers in Malaysia or abroad.
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“We hope to continue this momentum towards restoring pre-pandemic capacity across all Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) airlines, and expect to end the year with 82 per cent capacity,” he added.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai commended MAS for its efforts and acknowledgment for Sabah as an important key market.
“We are looking forward to more direct connectivity being restored and added by the National Airlines,” the STB Chairman said.
Present at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to welcome the passengers were Joniston, STB CEO Noredah Othman, MAS officials, Aero Darat Services officials (MAS official ground handler) and Malaysia Airport Berhad officials.
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