AirBorneo fares remain high despite hopes for budget travel, says Sibu folks

SIBU (Dec 11): AirBorneo’s long-awaited debut may have brought a fresh logo and a flashy new booking system — but on the streets, some Sibu folks say its airfares are still as pricey as its predecessor MASwings, despite expectations that it would offer more affordable, low-cost travel.

In a street poll, members of the public and community leaders voiced frustration and disbelief, saying ticket prices remain stubbornly high, dashing earlier hopes that the revamped airline would usher in a new era of low-cost, people-friendly travel.

Many had expected AirBorneo to take on AirAsia-style budget fares, especially after breaking away as a standalone brand.

Instead, some say the only thing that has changed so far is the name, colour and logo.

Sibu District Pemanca Paing Tawi, 61, said the public was bracing for a dramatic drop in fares — but nothing of the sort happened.

“People were hopeful that with a new name comes a new pricing structure, but the fares look almost the same as before.

“For rural travellers who depend heavily on air transport, affordability is the biggest concern,” he said.

He added that while online booking arrangements appear improved, many travellers judge airlines primarily by their pricing.

Sungai Pasai Siong Penghulu Eddy Jemat Jelian, 58, said rural residents were hoping AirBorneo would finally offer “people-first fares”, especially for vulnerable groups.

Instead, current ticket prices are still weighing heavily on those who rely on flights for essential travel.

He urged the airline to introduce special rates for pensioners immediately.

“Pensioners travel mainly for medical follow-ups or to visit their children. Even a small discount would make a big difference for them,” he said, adding that such incentives could strengthen AirBorneo’s image as a truly community-rooted carrier.

He believes a targeted fare scheme could build goodwill among rural passengers and encourage more people to fly with the carrier.

Civil servant David Fabuan Libau, 47, from Rassau, Igan, echoed the unhappiness, saying many rural travellers had believed AirBorneo would finally become a truly accessible community airline.

“AirBorneo should be like a budget airline. Most of us travel for medical appointments or to visit family, so we need cheaper fares.

“If the prices stay like MASwings, there is no real difference for ordinary people,” he said.

Youth representative Badruzzaman Matjeli, 27, a food delivery rider from Belaga, said younger travellers were initially thrilled by the rebranding — until they checked the fares.

“Everyone thought AirBorneo would challenge other airlines with better deals.

“But the prices are still high. Students and young workers are hoping the airline will review the pricing once operations stabilise,” he said.

AirBorneo recently announced that all MASwings tickets for travel before Jan 13, 2026 remain valid, while bookings for travel on or after Jan 14 must now be made through its new website.

The airline has also activated a customer care hotline and opened job applications on its official site https://airborneo.com.

But for now, Sibu folks say the message is simple and urgent: AirBorneo must bring down its prices — or risk losing the public before it even takes off.