The MASwings Twin Otter. File Photo
LAHAD DATU: MASwings Sdn Bhd today launched its inaugural flight on the new Lahad Datu-Sandakan route, operating 14 times a week.
MASwings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines Bhd and operates as a regional airline in Sarawak and Sabah.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Assaffal P. Alian said the new route was the right step to balance development and tourism between the state’s east and west coasts.
“Everyone knows the west coast is famous for the tourism industry, while in the east coast, only Semporna has received the most attention.
“The introduction of the new route by MASwings is expected to boost Sabah’s tourism industry, particularly to Lahad Datu and Semporna,” he told reporters at the launch of the route here today.
MASwings chief executive officer Aminuddin Zakaria said the new route would give more choices to both domestic and international tourists to visit Sabah’s east coast.
He said there were many requests for MASwings to open new flight routes and the airline would consider them based on each location’s economic development and if no other airline was willing to fly there. – Bernama