Saturday, October 22, 2011

MasWings eyes Brunei

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) subsidiary MasWings is in the midst of expanding its network of routes and destinations, with plans to introduce Brunei as a central "eastern hub" for international visitors in the BIMP-EAGA region being mooted for implementation next year.

The move could dramatically provide a significant impact on the frequency of visitors arriving at the Brunei International Airport.

The proposal to secure Brunei as the latest route could signal major progress and development because it will provide the new city code (BWN) more flexibility in terms of passengers' alternative routes and will offer visitors more opportunities to fly to Brunei which could subsequently further improve the country's tourism prospects.

However, accessibility and flexibility will not be the only benefits to be enjoyed by frequent and new visitors to Brunei, as travellers from nearby cities in both Sabah and Sarawak would have the added option of stopping over in Brunei before continuing their final leg of the journey towards other cities via Malaysia Airlines.

MasWings' proposed flights include daily flights to Kota Kinabalu and Brunei Darussalam-Kuching routes - and vice versa - three times a week, said Munirah Omar, MAS Executive, MasWings Division.

"We would definitely obtain our services once we receive approval from the Brunei Government. We will offer afternoon (around 1pm) and evening flights for Kota Kinabalu. The (flight) times are yet to be advised," she said in an interview with the Weekend Bulletin yesterday.

According to Munirah, Brunei will be a favourable destination given the fact that other major airlines in the region regularly fly in and out of the country. "By having these services in Brunei, we hope that it would attract easier international connections out of Kota Kinabalu," she said.

MasWings is currently waiting for approval from the government after having submitted the proposal to begin its operations in the Sultanate as the latest to join a host of destinations in the BIMP-EAGA region.

MasWings, which travels to 22 destinations mainly in Sabah and Sarawak, aims to ensure greater accessibility by establishing closer links for connecting flights to continental or global cities.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend
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