AirBorneo moves closer to Bangkok route following slot allocation report

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KUCHING, June 15: AirBorneo’s regional expansion plans received a boost after Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority reportedly allocated flight slots for the Sarawak-owned airline to operate direct services to Bangkok during the upcoming winter scheduling season.

Welcoming the development, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the news reflected positive progress for the airline as it works towards expanding its network beyond Malaysia.

He noted that AirBorneo remains a relatively new airline and that international expansion requires approvals from multiple authorities before services can be launched.

“That is welcoming news. Of course, we hope to see AirBorneo improve and become bigger and bigger, to a level whereby it might be on par with the other major airlines one day,” he told reporters today after the Samarahan Food & Cultural Festival 2026 ( SFCF) press conference.

Abdul Karim said the airline’s growth must be viewed in the context of its modest beginnings.

“Any business, including the aviation business, will always have a starting point. Our starting point was just early this year. We started with only three small aircraft, not even jetliners,” he pointed out.

He added that establishing routes to destinations such as Bangkok, Hong Kong and Jakarta involves securing approvals from airport operators and aviation authorities in the respective countries.

“To fly to Bangkok, Hong Kong or Jakarta, you need a lot of approvals. Once we get that, that’s how we improve. That’s how we grow,” he explained.

He also urged the public to be patient as AirBorneo develops its operations and route network, saying it was unrealistic to expect the airline to immediately compete with long-established international carriers.

According to reports by Thai media, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority has allocated operating slots for AirBorneo flights to Bangkok during the winter scheduling season, a move that could pave the way for direct services between Sarawak and the Thai capital, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals and operational arrangements.

If realised, the route would further strengthen Sarawak’s air connectivity with Southeast Asia and support efforts to boost tourism, trade and business travel between the two destinations.— DayakDaily