Sarawak minister To Meet AirAsia CEO On Reinstatement Of Flights

[Naim 6]

Oh dear, another political interference.

 

===

 

October 04, 2008 20:58 PM

 

Minister To Meet AirAsia CEO On Reinstatement Of Flights

 

KUCHING, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Sarawak's Tourism Minister, Datuk Michael Manyin, will meet AirAsia Bhd group chief executive officer, Datuk Tony Fernandes, to discuss the reinstatement of the Kuching-Bali and Kuching-Macau direct flights.

 

Manyin, who expected tough talks with Fernandez on Wednesday, said AirAsia decided to suspend the routes due to low passenger load.

 

"They have asked us to give an assurance that the passenger loads on the flights be between 60 and 70 percent if we want the routes to be reinstated.

 

"How can we give the assurance when we were given only two months to market the Kuching-Bali route, which was introduced in May this year and suspended in August," he told reporters at the Hari Raya Open House of state Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Awang Ali Hassan here today.

 

The Kuching-Macau flights will be suspended from Oct 26.

 

Manyin proposed that AirAsia stop flying directly back to Kuching and instead have one stop-over on the return flight for the two routes.

 

He said AirAsia could also use smaller aircraft for the return flights.

 

"The outbound flights do not pose problems as there are passengers. However, the return flights from the two routes have low passenger loads," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Manyin said the target of four million tourist arrivals was unlikely to be achieved this year due to the current global economic turmoil.

 

-- BERNAMA

 

http://bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=362588

 

[Kenneth Chong WT 0]

Oh please....stop-over?? Who is to pay for the parking fees?? Crew spending nights in Macau? AirAsia is a point-to-point carrier, they would never consider a stop-over in Macau or Bali...and to use smaller planes?? What does he have in mind?? FOKKER?? HELLO!!

 

So "malu" make statement like that...Tourism Minister some more...aduh!!

 

What they can do, is to reduce flight frequency...2X a week is good...and for the Bali-KCH....have AK operate instead of QZ....actually i really don't mind not having the KCH-MFM route...too many Massage Parlour and Foot Reflexology Centre opening up in the city...all enter through Macau...

[reyneo 0]

I suspect AK merely pulled the flights to prepare for the 6x daily SIN-KUL flights or other routes which they feel is more important. Just as how JQ pulled out of KUL after just a short time. Its not because the route was unprofitable, in fact, not enough time was given for the routes to prove themselves, its just that the airlines felt that aircraft could have been put on more important routes.

 

One sure way to get AK to reinstate flights would be to get the govt to pay for unoccupied seats if any flight was under the 60-70% LFs for a certain period after launch, say 6 months? Highly unlikely though.

 

Oh please....stop-over?? Who is to pay for the parking fees?? Crew spending nights in Macau? AirAsia is a point-to-point carrier, they would never consider a stop-over in Macau or Bali...and to use smaller planes?? What does he have in mind?? FOKKER?? HELLO!!

I think what he meant was to fly KCH-MFM-BKI-KCH and KCH-DPS-SIN-KCH or similar. To add a stopover between Macau/Bali and Kuching ONLY on the flight back. And as for smaller aircraft, how does a 737 sound for the MFM flight? (I know AK is phasing out their 737s but QZ could operate this route with their aircaft as a wet-lease only for this route)

Edited October 4, 2008 by reyneo

[Radzi 2]

One sure way to get AK to reinstate flights would be to get the govt to pay for unoccupied seats .......

 

Please remember the concept of taxpayer's money rather than government's money.

 

Anyway AK is a business, run by a smart businessman. It is not a charity so if there is no profit to be made, they'll pull out. Politicians, on the other hand, are just that, bluffing their way through.

 

[Aaron Goh 1]

AK to use smaller aircraft? What smaller a/c do they have?

[BC Tam 2]

..... actually i really don't mind not having the KCH-MFM route...too many Massage Parlour and Foot Reflexology Centre opening up in the city...all enter through Macau...

If the demand for "massage parlours and foot reflexology centres" is there, or for any other of these 'service based industries' for that matter, the supply chain will make its way there somehow

Whether it's via Macau, Singapore, KL ....... flying on AK, MH, BI ..... doesn't matter, even if you sever all air routes to/fro KCH

[MIR 2]

Minister To Meet AirAsia CEO On Reinstatement Of Flights

He said AirAsia could also use smaller aircraft for the return flights.

Where got smaller aircraft ??

Give their Citation X (9M-ATM) to AirAsia lah !! :rofl:

[MIR 2]

He said AirAsia could also use smaller aircraft for the return flights.

Edited October 5, 2008 by MIR

[rayner 0]

Nice one MIR ..now everyone can fly Xtra Xtra long with Xtra Xtra spacious seat

[Nick R. 0]

Good one MIR!

small aircraft..i think the old man means AK to use ATR ...besides, he was at Toulouse before MWA was delivered..

no market..no market laa, what to do.

[KK Lee 5]

Good one MIR!

small aircraft..i think the old man means AK to use ATR ...besides, he was at Toulouse before MWA was delivered..

no market..no market laa, what to do.

 

TF’s partners are at the highest in the corridor of power, doubt TF will concede to the old man’s request. After meeting TF, he will probably talks to Maswings if he hasn't already. At the end, he is just showing he is doing his job promoting Sarawak tourism.

 

After Air Borneo launched, bet he will toy similar idea to Hornbill.