Firefly to take over rural air services operation from FAX

By George Francis

MIRI - Rural air travellers and tourism players are thrilled with the news that Firefly, a subsidiary low-cost carrier of Malaysian Airlines, might take over Sarawak's rural air services operation from Fly Asian Xpress (FAX).

Lee Kim Shin, a member of Sarawak Tourism Board welcomed the good news if it would really materialise to help resolve the prevailing FAX's flight woes which has damaged the State's tourism industry.

FAX director Datuk Tony Fernandes reportedly made a proposal to Transport Minister Datuk Chan Kong Choy for the newly launched Firefly to take over the operation.

According to Lee, he had also contacted CEO of MAS, Idris Jala, who is on holiday in Perth about Fernandes' proposal. According to Idris in his reply, the MAS team would look into details of the "dramatic" offer.

Fernandes cited that it was too distracting for FAX to service the rural aircraft as it would be launching the long-haul AirAsia X operation.

FAX took over the rural service from MAS under the national air route rationalisation exercise since last August.

The subsidised airline has been at the receiving end of a litany of complaints from rural dwellers and tourism players.

FAX, a company that shares common directors with AirAsia, has since failed to resolve its commitment to improve services and shortcomings, disrupting settled routines and tourism businesses' bottom-lines.

Domestic travellers were fed up with insufficient flights, flight cancellations and delays or rescheduling of flights.

FAX-AirAsia's non-interlining connectivity with other airlines also shunned foreign tourists to Sarawak, especially to the world heritage site - the Mulu Caves - which depends on air accessibility.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin