For AirBorneo, business viability just as important as public service, says expert

Free Malaysia Today

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan says the Sarawak airline should take lessons from the experience of state-backed airlines globally.   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/03/07/for-airborneo-business-viability-just-as-important-as-public-service-says-expert/   Laporan Lanjut:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/03/07/daya-maju-perkhidmatan-awam-sama-penting-bagi-airborneo-kata-pakar/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTNews #WanAgylWanHassan #AirBorneo #FinancialManagement

Transcript

00:00Air Borneo needs a clear financial roadmap while balancing public service and commercial

00:06viability, according to a transport expert. Transport consultant Wan Agil Wan Hassan was

00:12responding to Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg's statement that the airline's success

00:16would be measured by its economic contribution rather than profitability. However, Wan Agil

00:22warned that state-backed airlines have had mixed fortunes, adding that many national

00:26carriers have struggled with overexpansion and financial mismanagement, leading to heavy

00:31reliance on government bailouts. He suggested offering profitable routes to offset losses

00:37from essential but less profitable ones instead of relying solely on government support. He

00:42added that the airline should prioritize strengthening domestic and intra-Borneo connectivity, giving

00:47those living in small towns and rural areas better access to urban centers rather than

00:52shift its focus to regional tourism markets. Abang Johari had said earlier that there are

00:58plans to connect Kuching to key destinations such as Jakarta, Bali, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

01:04Meanwhile, Singapore-based aviation consultant Brandon Sobie was skeptical about Air Borneo's

01:10jet operations, citing competition and limited demand for its planned international routes.

01:16He said that while the federal government will continue subsidizing rural air services,

01:21state government will have to bear the financial burden of the airline's jet operations.

01:26Dhanesh Rajareza, FMT News.

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