Kuala lumpur: AirBorneo may submit applications to provide flight services for the Kuching-Sibu, Kuching-Miri, and Kuching-Bintulu routes on a commercial basis as these routes are not categorised as Rural Air Services (RAS).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Transport Ministry stated that these routes were designated as intercity flights based on a RAS review by the Malaysian Aviation Commission in 2017. The routes no longer meet the definition of Public Service Obligations (PSO) as they were jointly operated by MASwings with AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, or both.

The Ministry mentioned that flights on these routes should not receive subsidies as they involve two cities, similar to any inter-city flight in Peninsular Malaysia. The change in status to commercial routes is expected to encourage local airlines to participate, offering more flight options for air travellers in rural Sabah and Sarawak.

This announcement comes as the Ministry seeks to address concerns raised at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly about the absence of AirBorneo flight services for the specified routes. These concerns were allegedly linked to an agreement signed by the Federal Government in 2019. The Sarawak state government assumed control of MASwings through AirBorneo, effective January 1.