Wavelength: Low-cost air carriers a better option for Kuching

[Edwin Lau 0]

Ha! I love this piece of news!

 

From NST read in skyscrapercity by fairul.

 

Wavelength: Low-cost air carriers a better option for Kuching

 

 

SARAWAK officials are showing that they are much better at wringing cash out of Putrajaya than dealing with such success.

 

 

Hundreds of millions of ringgit have gone into new airport development throughout the state but they now run the risk of being under-utilised.

 

There used to be two major airports in Sarawak: Kuching as the international gateway and Miri serving as a hub for the rural air services to interior outposts in both Sarawak and Sabah. Now, Bintulu has a new airport capable of landing even jumbo jets while Sibu gears up to be in the same league.

 

With the population in the entire state totalling a little more than two million,. it should have been clear to anyone that four jumbo jet-capable airports are on the excessive side, no matter how expansive the state — the usual reflexive argument for more, better and bigger airports

 

Now politicians in the state are reduced to pleading the national airlines to increase existing flights and connect the state’s airports directly to regional cities.

 

If only the pleas, now almost on a weekly basis, make more economic sense.uneconomic air routes which may be desirable but not vital.

 

People in the state need to wise up to the fact that our national airlines now face stiff regional competition and, much as they may want to oblige state leaders in their often political demands, Putrajaya is in no mood any longer to endlessly and mindlessly subsidise

 

So what are state officials to do? For starters, they need to come up with more realistic proposals. They need, for example, to focus most urgently on ensuring Kuching remains a viable international airport.

 

That the Kuching International Airport has been losing ground even as its facilities get a major upgrade is partly the state’s own doing. It is the direct result of the state’s success in getting the national airlines to mount direct flights from Sibu, Bintulu and Miri to Kuala Lumpur. What passengers in these towns may gain in direct connectivity, they naturally lose in terms of flight frequencies as such frequencies are dictated by passenger loads per flight.

 

Passengers followed by politicians soon complain about reduced flights and inconvenient schedules even between Kuching and points within the state.

 

The state government needs to put a stop to politicians making direct pitches to the national airlines on behalf of the town/airport they represent. There must be a coherent state-wide policy to maximise efforts to attract direct foreign connectivity into the state as a whole.

 

Ad hoc and piecemeal efforts on behalf of a particular airport may only cause untold long-term damage to the state’s overall interests.

 

There must be acceptance that the state cannot hope to sustain the viability of more than one international airport because of the limited population base.

 

It may therefore be more logical for all concerned to concentrate efforts on turning Kuching into an attractive regional air hub for foreign low-cost carriers from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong and even Australia.

 

In view of the great expense already pumped into its airport, there may be a case for the state to persuade the federal authorities to consider Kuching-specific concessions including fifth-freedom landing rights to entice non-Malaysian low-cost air carriers to make the city’s airport either their primary or secondary Malaysian hub.

 

Such efforts, if successful, will stem the relative decline of the local tourism industry vis-a-vis Sabah’s, which seems to be enjoying a sustained boom powered by a burgeoning upsurge in direct air connectivity into Kota Kinabalu from regional cities.

 

The successful creation of another regional air hub in Kuching will also reverse the decline in its connectivity to the rest of the state and thereby stem the clamour for mounting such non-starters as direct international flights from Sibu and Miri.

 

It should also prove beneficial to the national carriers in terms of seeing an upsurge in air traffic originating from Sarawak to Sabah and vice versa.

 

Low-cost air carriers have a proven track record in expanding the pie of the whole travel-related industry. Persuading them to land in Kuching would be a far more realistic option than chasing such pies-in-the-sky as direct overseas flights into other airports in the state.

 

So what are state officials to do? For starters, they need to come up with more realistic proposals. They need, for example, to focus most urgently on ensuring Kuching remains a viable international airport.

I agree with this part...hey sarawak government take a good look! Wise up stop listening to those pleas by Miri or Sibu wanting direct flights into their city from foreign city. Your main priority now is to boost your capital city's International Airport! Look at KK they are the main International Airport of Sabah and they are doing well. It is HIGH TIME to fully utilise this new Airport. Duh~

 

That the Kuching International Airport has been losing ground even as its facilities get a major upgrade is partly the state’s own doing. It is the direct result of the state’s success in getting the national airlines to mount direct flights from Sibu, Bintulu and Miri to Kuala Lumpur. What passengers in these towns may gain in direct connectivity, they naturally lose in terms of flight frequencies as such frequencies are dictated by passenger loads per flight.

Direct flights some more la... see what happens!

 

There must be acceptance that the state cannot hope to sustain the viability of more than one international airport because of the limited population base.

I agree with this so Stop dreaming of making Miri into an International airport. Boost up Kuching first!

 

It may therefore be more logical for all concerned to concentrate efforts on turning Kuching into an attractive regional air hub for foreign low-cost carriers from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong and even Australia.

 

Simply a very good idea. If you can't attract those FSC (Full Service Carries) get those LCC to do it. They offer attractive fares which will boost our tourism for sure. *2 thumbs up for this

opinion*

 

In view of the great expense already pumped into its airport, there may be a case for the state to persuade the federal authorities to consider Kuching-specific concessions including fifth-freedom landing rights to entice non-Malaysian low-cost air carriers to make the city’s airport either their primary or secondary Malaysian hub.

 

Freedom of landing rights encourages more airlines to serve KIA. More airlines = More direct flights = tourist influx = $$$$ comin in = better economy

 

So wake up!

Edited April 21, 2007 by Edwin Lau