KOTA KINABALU: AirAsia became the first airline to open up direct international flights to Sabah since Malaysian borders reopened on April 1, with its inaugural Singapore-Kota Kinabalu flight landing on Saturday (April 16).
Flight AK1794 arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) at 2.19pm and was welcomed by a water salute ceremony.
There were 119 passengers on board.
State Assistant Culture, Tourism and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who was present to greet arrivals, said this was a momentous occasion with Singapore being a focus market for many years now.
"Singapore is a highly important hub for Sabah as it connects our other focus markets around the world into Sabah.
"We know that Singaporeans love nature, diving and the great outdoors... now they can look forward to indulging themselves again in these activities (in Sabah)," said Bangkuai, who is also Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman, to reporters after the welcoming ceremony.
Meanwhile, AirAsia chief commercial officer Tan Mai Yin said three weekly flights are now plying the route, with the frequency increased to daily operations starting April 29.
She revealed that AirAsia is targeting to introduce direct flights from Thailand and the Philippines to Kota Kinabalu as soon as the first half of this year.
"For Indonesia and other destinations, it will be from the second half (of the year) forward," she said when asked about other plans to connect the state capital.
Asked to comment about the recent hot issue of exorbitant flight tickets offered by airlines during the Hari Raya "balik kampung" season, she said the low-cost carrier has always been committed to giving affordable prices.
"On AirAsia's side, looking at how we have been selling tickets for the month of April and May, more than 50% of tickets for return flights from Kuala Lumpur to here or Kuching are less than RM500. So when it comes to pricing, it is still competitive but affordable," she explained.