Sarawak plans to add an AirBorneo aircraft

LIMBANG, 19 September: The Sarawak government plans to add several new aircraft for the state-owned airline, AirBorneo Airways, to meet the needs of flight frequencies especially in northern Sarawak.

Deputy Prime Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, said the effort was in line with the strategic mission of Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, to strengthen air connectivity in the state.

"I know a lot of requests to add AirBorneo. We're getting a couple of planes, including the types that land from Kuching to this Balance.

"Hopefully what we've planned to get more of these planes is achieved. So it's easy for us to plan not only in terms of frequency, but also in terms of destination. I and the Prime Minister of Sarawak have been to visit Toulouse, in France to talk with this supplier", he said.

He said this while representing the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, at the 2026 Balance Party Inauguration Meeting in the Sungai Limbian Plain today.

Central Awang said the Sarawak Government is in talks to add some new ATRs to replace existing aircraft.

It is clear that the Prime Minister of Sarawak has previously led an official delegation visiting ATR and Airbus' headquarters as well as final assembly plants in Toulouse, France.

He said the visit was aimed at reviewing the latest aviation innovations and preparing Sarawak as a regional aerospace hub through strategic cooperation and development of Aerotropolis project.

He added that with the addition of the aircraft, it could meet the need to increase the frequency of flights for Kuching-Limbang route to twice a day to meet local demand. -TVS