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H C Chai

AirAsia to cancel KCH - MFM

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A local chinese newspaper quoted that Airasia is to cancel KCH - MFM flight from end October 2008. Not sure if this is only a rumour? I only learnt this from my parents and couldn't find any other sources from the internet. However the AK website now shows no flights after end Oct for KCH - MFM, BKI - MFM and JHB - MFM!

 

The KCH-MFM route was only launched in November 2007. It doesn't even last a year! :(

 

I almost booked MFM-KCH for my home trip in Feb 2009. That was close!!! A friend of mine recently booked her first flight with AirAsia on KCH-DPS. After half a dozens of phone calls and emails, AK/QZ reluctantly booked her on KCH-KUL-DPS.

 

Sometimes cheap is not cheerful

Edited by H C Chai

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Seems like Kuching is the problem not AK. Supposed there just aren't enough people from Kch to travel vice versa. Even Silkair has removed one of its daily flight making it a 6 flights weekly. The bigger the airport the less flights it become.

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Too bad if the news is true. Quite a blow to KCH after the termination of the DPS-KCH-DPS route, which was also shortlived. I always thought the demand would be there, as I believe many would fly the route on their way to Hong Kong especially the Indonesians (KCH is the gateway to escape the dreaded IDR 1.000.000 fiscal tax). CGK-KCH-CGK is also reported to be terminated too.

 

But I applaud AirAsia's decision to terminate any routes that proved to be unprofitable without going through so much drama, unlike MH - BKK-LGK-BKK, BKK-BKI-BKK, PLM-JHB-PLM (all are AirAsia's shortlived routes) come to mind.

 

These developments now raised a lot of question as to whether KCH really is an attractive airport for medium haul routes. AK once mulled to revive KCH-PER-KCH, once served by MH.

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Guest redharahmad
Too bad if the news is true. Quite a blow to KCH after the termination of the DPS-KCH-DPS route, which was also shortlived. I always thought the demand would be there, as I believe many would fly the route on their way to Hong Kong especially the Indonesians (KCH is the gateway to escape the dreaded IDR 1.000.000 fiscal tax). CGK-KCH-CGK is also reported to be terminated too.

 

Played ard with the AirAsia booking engine, seems like no more CGK-JHB-CGK flights after Dec also...are the QZ B733 aircraft(s) being redeployed or simply retired?

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I'd be even happier if they just stripped off the international airport status for Kuching.. shame on the ministry of tourism for doing nothing other than farting in their offices

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Ouch! Is this permanent?!

 

Seems like it. the flight taken off is a Wednesday flight. Making commuting even harder now. How sad.

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Seems like it. the flight taken off is a Wednesday flight. Making commuting even harder now. How sad.

 

 

Which means there will be no evening flights mid-week between KCH and SIN!

 

Thanks for the info Aaron! My parents will be flying MI on KCH-SIN-XMN vv next month. IIRC their return flight is on a Wednesday. Opps!!

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Another blow to Kuching International Airport...kinda rubbing salt to an already open and bleeding wound!!

 

Is it because no one is flying into Kuching or no one is flying out?? I dont understand??? Please, someone enlighten me...

 

With the borneo convention centre on its way and so many hotels coming up, ie...Tune Hotel, four points by Sheraton, Novotel...something just doesnt add up?? Surely these hotels would not built the hotels without surveying the market?? Yet there a re less and lesser people flying in and out of KCH?? I really dont understand...MI is now to 6 a week?? What's next??

 

Here is some pics of Kuching...

 

image011bh2.jpg

Novotel Interhill Kuching

 

pic_site_aug2008_1.jpg

The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching...

 

???

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Here is some pics of Kuching...

 

image011bh2.jpg

Novotel Interhill Kuching

 

pic_site_aug2008_1.jpg

The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching...

 

Kuching has novotel! Wow!

 

Kenneth, where are these two places? In the city centre?

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Kuching has novotel! Wow!

 

Kenneth, where are these two places? In the city centre?

 

Novotel Interhill Kuching is in town and just across the road of Hilton Hotel

 

Borneo Convention Centre is located at road side to Bako area.

 

:)

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Another blow to Kuching International Airport...kinda rubbing salt to an already open and bleeding wound!!

 

Is it because no one is flying into Kuching or no one is flying out?? I dont understand??? Please, someone enlighten me...

 

With the borneo convention centre on its way and so many hotels coming up, ie...Tune Hotel, four points by Sheraton, Novotel...something just doesnt add up?? Surely these hotels would not built the hotels without surveying the market?? Yet there a re less and lesser people flying in and out of KCH?? I really dont understand...MI is now to 6 a week?? What's next??

 

 

Hotels operators like Sheraton, Novotel, Tune, etc don’t normally own the property but franchised and operate for the property owners. Very often, these properties in Sarawak and Sabah belong to people in power and deep pocket. Construction of hotels and convention centre doesn’t necessary reflect demand but often for prestige e.g. Putrajaya.

 

Sabah and Sarawak may be the two most resources rich states in the country but after years of mismanagement, most of the wealth are in the hand of few people. Hence, most people on the street have low disposable income and resulted poor demand for air travel.

 

:drinks:

 

 

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Gee...I'm not sure about the disposable fund part...houses and lands are damn expensive these days, is not as if we are short of land in Kuching!! And the amount of cars a family has, like 4 or 5!! Drive into any other housing, you will see that...

 

Even my cousin in The Prime Minister's Department says so (my aunt convert, sons is a PTD)...coz we got nowhere to spend...in KL or Penang and JB...there is toll...parking fees, "yuppies" hanging out...so many malls to shop in...theme park...Casino (at least in Genting) where as in Sabah and Sarawak we have less to spend...thus we end up buying lands...houses...cars with weird shapes and funny names...is it me or is it a status thing to buy a Ninja King (that’s a Toyota Land Cruiser)...

 

Just that maybe people do fly out of KCH but rather go through KUL...maybe someone from "inside" can provide us with the figures....I really don’t know...I love hanging out at KCH’s starbucks...and I always hear people talking about going to Sydney to visit their daughter, or NZ to see their grandchildren and business women going out in groups to Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong to buy clothes for their boutique...how do they fly? Rather to where?? Anyone out there knows the load factor on MI?? Or is flying International is a "seasonal" thing??

 

In someway i do agree with you KK Lee..."the great white shark" has taken over the state...creating his own "Dynasty"!!

 

Will someone please help KCH?? Just got back from Sarawak Convention Bureau...there are 170 conferences and events going to take place from now till next year....hmm...still no help to our sad an pathetic air traffic...

 

Hey Iggy...KCH has got a new name...take your pick...

 

"Kuching Semi-International Airport" and "Kuching Seasonal International Airport"!!!!

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Time to set up an East Malaysian airline :pardon:

Not again, please !

Best effort so far was Saega - where is it nowadays ?! :)

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i thought the load of BKI-MFM vv. quite good. since nowadays got many Brunei-en like to travel with LCC. at least my cousin and his friend, willing to drive up to KK or down to Miri just to catch their flight to other places with AK.

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BI is also reducing flights to KCH to 2x per week in October. :huh:

 

At least its temporary, I hope.

 

but BKI-BWN vv. 3 times a day. if not mistaken. morning, evening and mid-night.

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Attention! All routes leading to heaven are now closing.

 

BKI - BKK - closed

BKI - DPS - closed

BKI - MFM - Last Call

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