Kota Kinabalu: The arrival of AirAsia’s flight AK1794 from Singapore into Kota Kinabalu today marked the first international flight into Sabah after two years since the pandemic started, which was welcomed by fanfare and a water salute ceremony upon landing.
The inaugural post-pandemic flight departed Singapore on time at 12.10pmand arrived in Kota Kinabalu at 2.30pm with over 124 passengers on board the 180-seat A320 aircraft.
Arriving guests were warmly greeted by Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board, along with Dato Sri Dr Anil Jeet Singh Sandhu, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia; Noredah Othman, CEO of Sabah Tourism Board; and Tan Mai Yin, AirAsia Chief Commercial Officer.
Three weekly flights are now available between Kota Kinabalu and Singapore, according to a statement.
Apart from Singapore, AirAsia has also resumed flights to India, Brunei, the Maldives, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia from Kuala Lumpur. More international flights to and from Kota Kinabalu will begin operating soon.
Datuk Jafry Ariffin, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment said: “Since international borders re-opened on 1 April 2022, we have been working tirelessly with all parties to keep Sabah on top of tourists and travellers' minds throughout these past two years."
Sabah is confident that tourism will return to pre-pandemic levels, he added.
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