AirBorneo Airways (AirBorneo) marked a major milestone on Sarawak Day by launching its first international route, connecting Kuching and Singapore via Terminal 4 of Singapore Changi Airport.
The inaugural international flight, MY363, departed Kuching at 6.50pm and arrived in Singapore at 8.04pm, 21 minutes ahead of schedule, the airline said in a statement on Thursday.
The return flight, MY364, departed Singapore at 9.27pm and landed in Kuching at 10.36pm, arriving 14 minutes earlier than scheduled.
AirBorneo chairman Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki described the launch as a significant milestone for both the airline and Sarawak.
“It reflects our commitment to strengthening connectivity, expanding opportunities and supporting Sarawak’s long-term economic aspirations.
“Singapore is a key regional gateway, and this new route will further enhance tourism, trade, investment and people-to-people ties between Sarawak and Singapore,” he said.
He added that launching the route on Sarawak Day symbolises the state’s continued growth and its shared vision of positioning Sarawak as a dynamic gateway to the region.
Meanwhile, AirBorneo chief executive officer Megat Ardian Aminuddin said the airline’s first international service marks an important step in its next phase of growth.
“Singapore was the natural choice for our first international destination because of the strong relationship and close economic ties between Sarawak and one of the region’s leading aviation and commercial hubs.
“This route marks the beginning of our international network expansion as we continue to grow strategically across the region,” he said.
Megat said AirBorneo aims to connect Sarawak with more international destinations in the future to strengthen regional connectivity and support the state’s long-term development.
The airline will operate daily flights between Kuching and Singapore, with tickets now available through the AirBorneo website and mobile application.
Earlier, it was reported that AirBorneo, the Sarawak government-owned airline, would commence its inaugural Kuching–Singapore service on 22 July in conjunction with Sarawak Day celebrations.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg previously announced that during the airline’s first six months of operations, AirBorneo would offer fixed fares of RM399 for the Kuching–Singapore route and RM375 for the Kuching–Kuala Lumpur route as part of its commitment to providing affordable air travel.
He added that the airline plans to expand its network to more destinations across ASEAN, while continuing to fulfil its responsibility of providing rural air services in Sarawak and Sabah.
