Sabah linked by flight to another city in China

KOTA KINABALU (Aug 3): Sabah is now connected by flight to another city in China after AirAsia launched an inaugural flight from Ningbo to Kota Kinabalu on Aug 2.

On the inaugural flight, 179 passengers arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, filling 96% of the flight’s capacity.

This new route will operate three times a week, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with a capacity of 186 seats per flight, offering 558 seats per week, further improving connectivity between Sabah and China.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the new route not only strengthens Sabah’s tourism industry, but also promotes closer cultural and economic ties between the regions.

“We are grateful to AirAsia for their continued support and commitment to expanding Sabah’s reach. We have seen significant growth from China, with 167,371 arrivals recorded up to May this year.

“We hope that this increased connectivity will significantly increase tourist arrivals, benefit local businesses and promote cultural exchange. This new connectivity aligns with the Sabah Tourism Board’s strategic plans to enhance the region’s attractiveness and accessibility as a premier tourist destination,” she said.

With this additional route, Sabah now welcomes 83 weekly flights from nine Chinese cities. Of these, 62 flights are operated by AirAsia, connecting Sabah to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Wuhan, Beijing, Fuzhou and now Ningbo.

Dato’s Captain Fareh Mazputra, Managing Director of AirAsia Malaysia, said: “We are pleased to welcome our inaugural flight from Ningbo to Kota Kinabalu today with almost 100% passenger load. This is indeed another milestone for us as we celebrate our position as the largest foreign carrier in China. With the recent announcement of our new route to Kunming from this second largest hub in Malaysia, AirAsia will operate a total of 10 routes with 69 weekly flights to China from 25 September 2024.

“We are delighted to see strong growth and demand for our services to China. Furthermore, through our recent five-year strategic partnership with the Sabah Tourism Board, we are committed to playing our part within the airline industry to enhance and facilitate tourism in Sabah, particularly by expanding into the Chinese market.”

Sabah Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, accompanied by Sabah Tourism Board CEO Julinus Jeffery Jimit and AirAsia Malaysia Managing Director Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, were at KKIA to welcome passengers from Ningbo.