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Labuan: DAP Chairman here, Lau Seng Kiat, suggested that Sabah and Sarawak set up their own "Borneo Airways" for the future of the two East Malaysian States which are now totally dependent on MAS and AirAsia for air travel.
Lau said this is in view of the no clear-cut assurance that in the wake of the new collaboration between MAS and AirAsia, the two airline services, fares and connections provided to Kuala Lumpur and other towns would be the same since the focus of the airlines would be to make more money and become a globally accepted brand.
"We cannot take things for granted on whether that two airlines would be still as keen as now to operate in this sector with or without profits.
On the other hand, air services provided by the airline were so essential to the two States," added Lau.
He said the assurance by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri that the tie-up between the two airlines fares and services was compromised was not enough. Lau said such assurance should be made by the two operators instead.
He recalled that when one of the airlines refused to relocate operations from the LCCT in Kota Kinabalu there was little that the Ministry could do.
"When airlines become big, anyone could be at its mercy" he added.
He went on to say that the idea for Sabah and Sarawak to have their own airlines was suggested before but did not take off. He said that with the support of the corporate and government in Sabah and Sarawak such an airline could prosper.
He said that when AirAsia commenced business in 2001, it had just two planes.
Now about 100 aircraft make up its fleet and was also offering long-haul flights through AirAsia X.
One positive announcement made when the alliance concluded was that budget airline was Firefly would be relaunched as a new regional full service airline. Aviation industry experts have given a thumbs-up sign to the strategic tie-up.
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