MASWings aims to be reliable and friendly

MIRI: MASWings, a subsidiary company to Malaysia Airlines aims to be a reliable and friendly commuter airline and will give the best service as it resumes running the domestic and Rural Air Services (RAS) in both Sarawak and Sabah as it was before the rationalization exercise.
MASWings will officially take to the skies effective October 1 this year, said its Managing Director, Dr. Amin Khan.
“We will strive to be a reliable and friendly commuter carrier, providing affordable fares, convenient schedule and connections for the travelling population in Sabah and Sarawak,” he stated in a joint press conference with Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Lee Kim Shin after a briefing session on MASWings operation in Sarawak at Miri Marriot Resort &Spa (MMRS) yesterday.
Dr. Amin said MASWings as a subsidiary of the national carrier, they will draw on the rich experience of their parent company in both States for more than 50 years and continue the tradition to bring local communities closer whilst being a key player in increasing international arrivals to the tourist attractions.
MASWings will initially commence operations with 4 Fokker 50 and 4 Twin Otter aircraft to serve a network of 23 destinations in Sarawak and Sabah as well as the Federal Territory of Labuan.
Another 3 Fokker 50 and 1 Twin Otter aircraft will join MASWings effective October 28.
By December 1 this year, the new airline will have a fleet of 8 Fokker 50 and 5 Twin Otter aircraft to provide an average of 113 weekly F50 flights and 80 weekly Twin Otter flights.
In addition for future planning, MASWings will have 10 aircraft of ATR 72 by 2009.
Touching further on the flight booking, he said it is open for bookings with immediate effect through Malaysia Airlines Call Centre 1300-88-3000 as well as airlines and travel agents linked to 10 Global Distribution Systems.
For the convenience of the customers, the airline will be using the same booking system of MAS and all the flights will use the Malaysia Airlines prefix MH followed by a four-digit flight number.
He is optimistic that through this exercise, it will provide the much needed interlining and connectivity to boost tourist arrivals for Sabah and Sarawak as well as boost outbound travel beyond point-to-point operations in the 2 States.
Replying to a question on RM40 million cost to restore all of the existing aircraft, Dr. Amin said it was the standard requirement practice in the aviation industry.
Meanwhile, MAS Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Datuk Idris Jala in his press statement extended the airline's thanks to the government for placing their trust in MAS' ability to serve the needs of the people of Sarawak and Sabah.
“We decided on a subsidiary for this operations as it allows us to clearly define our obligations to Sarawak and Sabah through MASWings with the support of the government while we continue to remain focused on our Business Turnaround Plan for Malaysia Airlines,” he remarked.
MAS he added has linked its existing global connectivity for MASWings' operations to improve air travel between and within Sarawak and Sabah.
“We will play a vital role as an engine of economic growth in East Malaysia. We will also tap the vast “leisure-focused and business-interested” market in both East Malaysia and the rest of the world to develop new growth opportunities for MAS and MASWings.
For this purpose, MAS schedules are now realigned with MASWings to provide customers the comfort of origin to final destination check-in and baggage transfers.
Launched during the 50th year of the country’s independence, MASWings will showcase itself as a truly commuter airline primarily catering to both the intra and interstate air travel needs of Sarawak and Sabah as well as enhancing air connectivity between the two States and the most 50 million population of the Brunei-Malaysia-Indonesia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Written by:
Norni Mahadi
Eastern Times
21 August 2007