Kuching eyes Asean hub status with new airport, expanded regional air links

Abang Johari speaking during the grand opening of a hotel in Kuching on Oct 6, 2026. Photo credit: Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas)

By Christine T

KUCHING, Oct 6: Sarawak aims to position Kuching as a major Asean hub by expanding air connectivity and developing the city’s infrastructure to serve as a regional gateway for tourism, business and services.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said Kuching’s strategic location allowed the city to connect not only with destinations within Malaysia but also across Asean and East Asia.

“Our long-term objective is Kuching to be the hub of Asean. No longer confined to Malaysia, but we extend beyond Malaysia because we are strategically located in Asean,” he said this during the officiation of a hotel here today.

He said the State’s investment in its own airline, AirBorneo, was part of this strategy, with the airline initially connecting Kuching to strategic hubs including Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and a direct flight to Jakarta by the end of this month.

Abang Johari said Sarawak was also looking to establish connectivity between Kuching and Jeju Island in South Korea, linking the two destinations through their Unesco Global Geopark status.

“This is why Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hazmah is now planning to connect Kuching to Jeju Island. Because Jeju is a geopark and Kuching is also a geopark,” he said.

Abang Johari said the new international airport being developed with international models such as Doha in mind would play a key role in the state’s connectivity ambitions, serving not only as an airport hub but also as a transit point for travellers within the region.

He also added that the State was simultaneously strengthening Kuching’s tourism and business-event infrastructure, including the expansion of the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) to accommodate up to 15,000 people.

He said the growing number of conferences and business events coming to Kuching had also created demand for more hotel rooms, while healthcare expansion was opening another potential market through medical tourism.

“The whole ecosystem is there. And we are putting money to upgrade all these facilities including connectivity,” he said. — DayakDaily