MASWINGS sees the relocation of the Indonesian capital to East Kalimantan as an opportunity to resume flights to Balik Papan, said CEO Aminuddin Zakaria today. 

He said MASwings had been compelled to stop flying the route as it was not in demand.

“We will evaluate. The last time we flew to Balik Papan in East Kalimantan, the area wasn’t fully developed yet. 

“Since Indonesia is moving its capital there, there’s an opportunity to bring the matter back to the discussion table again. From there we would be able to see if it will make business sense to resume the flights,” he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu.

MASwings began flying to Kalimantan in 2012 but stopped when the route failed to prove profitable.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, MASwings operates the rural air services (RAS) in East Malaysia.

Because Jakarta is sinking, Indonesia will move its capital to Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertenagara, near Balik Papan, in Kalimantan in 2024.

Aminuddin earlier witnessed the signing of an agreement between MASwings and SIngapore’s ST Engineering Aerospace on overhaul landing gear. 

ST Engineering Aerospace general manager Ku Kay Choon and Deputy Chief Minister cum Sabah Industry and Trade Minister Wilfred Madius Tangau were also present. 

Ku said there was room for more discussions over investment in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park Aerospace. 

 “Certainly when we heard about KKIP Aerospace, there is room for us to initiate strategic dialogues with each other and that MASwings has paved the way for both parties (Sabah and ST Engineering) to start discussions,” he said. 

Earlier, Tangau had suggested that the Singapore firm invest in Sabah through the KKIP Aerospace, which would benefit from technology and expertise sharing. 

The Sabah government is on the verge of opening the KKIP Aerospace, a centre providing young Sabahans with practical training at airlines and maintenance and overhaul firms. – September 5, 2019.