AirBorneo Expands Network
AirBorneo Launches First Kuching-Kuala Lumpur Jet Service with Promotional Fares
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Key Points
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Inaugural commercial service on 20 July will be a single Kuala Lumpur–Kuching flight with 100 seats available for public booking; regular twice-daily services will start from 21 July.
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AirBorneo's mobile app provides check-in up to 48 hours before departure, seat selection, and digital boarding passes, complementing online bookings.
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Bookings for the Kuching–KL route opened on 7 July at 7am and are available exclusively through AirBorneo's official website and mobile app.
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Sarawak's Tourism Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah urged patience for AirBorneo’s growth, noting the route is outside Rural Air Services and that the airline likely conducted studies on demand to justify its pricing to avoid loss-making operations.
AirBorneo has launched its first jet service to Peninsular Malaysia, connecting Kuching and Kuala Lumpur with promotional one-way fares starting at RM375 for economy and RM736 for business class, according to Head Topics. The new route marks a major step for the carrier, which acquired MASwings from Malaysia Aviation Group and is now pushing beyond Borneo for the first time.
Ticket sales opened on 7 July at 7am exclusively through AirBorneo's website and mobile app, Yahoo Malaysia reported. The inaugural commercial flight departs on 20 July with 100 seats available for public booking, followed by a full twice-daily schedule using Boeing 737-800 jets from 21 July.
Sarawakku Sayang Fares Aim to Fill Seats Fast
AirBorneo branded its launch pricing the "Sarawakku Sayang" promotion. Economy seats start at RM375 one-way, while business class begins at RM736. The fares are only available through AirBorneo's official website and mobile app — no third-party booking platforms, according to Yahoo Malaysia.
The airline's CEO, Megat Ardian Aminuddin, described the Kuching–KL route as the carrier's first link to Peninsular Malaysia, Head Topics reported. The mobile app also lets travelers check in up to 48 hours before departure, pick their seats, and get digital boarding passes — cutting out paper and queues.
July 20 Debut Kicks Off With Limited Seats
The very first flight on 20 July will carry only 100 publicly booked passengers, functioning as a soft launch. Full twice-daily operations begin the next day, 21 July, with Boeing 737-800 jets on both departures. The 737-800 is a single-aisle narrowbody jet commonly used on short- to medium-haul routes across Southeast Asia.
Sarawak's Tourism Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah urged the public to be patient with AirBorneo's rollout, according to Head Topics. He noted the Kuching–KL route falls outside Rural Air Services, meaning the airline set its own pricing based on demand studies rather than government subsidy guidelines. He said the airline likely ran the numbers carefully "to avoid loss-making operations."
Sarawak Eyes Singapore and Kota Kinabalu as Next Stops
AirBorneo does not plan to stop at Kuala Lumpur. The carrier has signaled it wants to add flights to Singapore and Kota Kinabalu as part of a broader network push, Travel and Tour World reported. The moves are part of a wider Malaysian strategy to strengthen air links with Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia.
Officials say better connectivity directly supports tourism and investment in Sarawak. The state is home to ancient rainforests, diverse cultures, and adventure travel draw cards that have historically been hard to reach cheaply from the peninsula. Cheaper, direct flights are seen as a key tool to change that, according to Travel and Tour World.
MASwings Takeover Gave AirBorneo Its Regional Foothold
AirBorneo's expansion is built on its acquisition of MASwings, the regional carrier formerly owned by Malaysia Aviation Group. That deal gave AirBorneo an existing route network across Borneo, plus airport slots and operational infrastructure. The Kuching–KL launch is the first move to take that platform beyond the island, Head Topics reported.
Leadership has framed the growth as deliberate and careful. CEO Megat Ardian described the new route as a "stepping stone" rather than a sprint. With twice-daily flights, a digital-first booking system, and government backing, AirBorneo is positioning itself as a serious competitor on one of Malaysia's busiest air corridors.
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