AirBorneo takes off in inaugural flights to Mukah and Tanjung Manis

KUCHING, Jan 2 2026: State-owned AirBorneo took off in its inaugural flights this morning, the destinations being Mukah and Tanjung Manis.

AirBorneo Holdings Bhd chairman Abu Bakar Marzuki speaking to reporters after the launch of the inaugural flights to Mukah and Tanjung Manis. On his left is Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin - Picture by Ukas
 

The Kuching-Mukah flight took off with 54 passengers and Kuching-Tanjung Manis departed with 15 passengers.

Speaking to reporters, AirBorneo holdings Bhd chairman Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said he acknowledged that time is needed for the airline to mature, calling on the public, communities and the media to extend their support and understanding during the early stages of operations.

“We cannot expect something to be perfect at the first step or the second step. What is important is that we move forward, improve continuously, and stay focused on serving the people,” he said.

He also reaffirmed AirBorneo’s commitment to providing the best possible service standards, while balancing operational realities and long-term sustainability.

He added AirBorneo will adopt a collaborative and progressive approach as it moves into its next phase of operations, with a clear focus on improving services while strengthening Sarawak’s aviation ecosystem, following its inaugural flight launch.

He said the establishment of the airline reflects the Sarawak government’s far-sighted vision to enhance transportation infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

He expressed appreciation to Premier Abang Johari Openg for his long-term mission in strengthening connectivity, describing AirBorneo’s launch as the first step in a longer journey towards a more resilient and people-centric aviation sector.

“Every journey must start with one step. Moving forward, we will continue to look at how we do things and how we can improve in order to serve the people better,” he said when addressing the media after the launch of the inaugural flight at Kuching International Airport today.

Abu Bakar, who is also the Sarawak Government Secretary, said AirBorneo will not operate in isolation, but instead adopt a collaborative model by working closely with strategic partners and industry allies to deliver reliable and efficient air services.

He stressed that cooperation across stakeholders is essential, as no single entity can build a strong aviation ecosystem alone, particularly in a state with unique geographical and connectivity challenges like Sarawak.

He noted that the airline’s development will be guided by a people-first philosophy, ensuring that connectivity improvements translate into tangible benefits for communities across Sarawak.

Also present were Sarawak TransportM Minister Lee Kim Shin, Deputy Ministerof Transport Dr Jerip Susil, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS), Abdullah Saidol, Sarawak Financial Secretary Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, Sarawak Attorney General Safri Ali, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel and Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Wong Hee Sieng.