AirAsia to discontinue S’pore-Miri, S’pore-Sibu routes in February due to low demand

Lee (left) in a photo with the delegation from AirAsia led by Hamdan (second left) on Jan 10, 2024.

KUCHING, Jan 11: AirAsia will discontinue its Singapore-Miri and Singapore-Sibu routes in February due to low passenger demand and increasing financial losses.

Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin was briefed on this decision during AirAsia Berhad’s courtesy visit led by its government relations officer Hamdan Mohamad, along with a delegation from Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) at the Baitul Makmur Complex office yesterday (Jan 10).

During the briefing on AirAsia Sarawak’s operational performance in 2023 and plans for 2024, Hamdan highlighted the carrier’s positive expectations for passenger load in most Sarawak sectors this year, except for the Singapore-Miri and Singapore-Sibu routes.

In response, Lee urged AirAsia to consider increasing Kuching-Jakarta route frequency to a daily service, given the strong passenger demand.

Meanwhile, AirAsia is offering fixed one-way low fares of RM298 for late-night flights to Sarawak during the upcoming Chinese New Year.

These fixed fares are applicable to routes between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, or Miri, as well as between Johor Bahru and Kuching, Sibu, or Miri, with the travel period scheduled between Feb 5 to Feb 15.

The airline’s fixed low fares initiative is also in line with the government’s FLYsiswa programme to subsidise RM300 for the purchase of flight tickets for public university students and the RM599 base-fare subsidy scheme for the purchase of one-way economy class flight tickets to East Malaysia during festive seasons as announced last year.

For those planning festive travels and school holidays, Lee advised travellers to plan and book their flights early to secure the best fares.

He would also be meeting with other airlines to request additional flights during upcoming festive seasons and school holidays.

Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, the Ministry’s Aviation Division head Zulkarnain Rosli and its technical advisor Sio Yew Hua were among those present. — DayakDaily