KUCHING: AirBorneo will replace its ageing ATR fleet with newer ATR 600 aircraft once the current lease period expires in at least two years.

Sarawak Minister for Transport, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said that after taking over from MASwings, AirBorneo will initially retain all leased aircraft to ensure uninterrupted flight services, especially for the Rural Air Services (RAS).

“Most of the ATR aircraft are old, so they will be replaced with new ATR 600 models once the lease period expires.

“We have already started looking into acquiring new aircraft as outlined in the agreement,” he said during a special press conference on the Road Safety Awareness Campaign and the Launch of the Sarawak Ministry of Transport (MOTS) Duit Raya Packets at Baitulmakmur I on Wednesday.

However, he noted that no decision has been made yet regarding the replacement of six DHC-6-400 Twin Otter aircraft, which play a crucial role in serving remote areas across Sarawak.

In addition, Dato Sri Lee also shared that the Sarawak Government would consider acquiring new jet aircraft to expand its regional routes once all necessary approvals and licences are secured.

“We are currently exploring the possibility of leasing, and groundwork is underway,” he added.

MASwings, now under the ownership of the Sarawak Government and rebranded as AirBorneo, operates a fleet of eight ATR 72-500 aircraft and six DHC-6-400 Twin Otter aircraft.

The Twin Otters, based in Miri, provide vital air connectivity to 11 rural airports with Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) facilities, many of which remain inaccessible by road.

Currently, MASwings serves 22 destinations, including Brunei, through a codeshare agreement, with Kota Kinabalu and Miri as its main hubs.

The transition to AirBorneo marks a new era in Sarawak’s aviation industry, with the government aiming to modernise its fleet and expand connectivity across the region.

Also present at the press conference were MOTS Deputy Ministers, Datuk Dr. Jerip Susil and Dato Henry Harry Jinep. -UKASnews