AirAsia’s First Flight to Sulawesi’s Second City

Priyal DuttaSeptember 3, 20241 Mins read481

AirAsia Connects Kota Kinabalu to Manado

AirAsia celebrated the inaugural flight from Kota Kinabalu to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi and the second-largest city on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island. The flight, operated by AirAsia Malaysia, departed Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 8:50 AM and landed at Sam Ratulangi International Airport at 11:00 AM local time.

jyfyfctc — The flight departed Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 8:50 AM and landed at Sam Ratulangi International Airport at 11:00 AM

Flight AK1797 received the traditional water cannon salute upon arrival at Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, North Sulawesi. The arriving guests were received by Dr. Steven OE Kandouw, who represented the North Sulawesi Governor, Rafail Walangitan, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kota Kinabalu, Dr. Steven OE Kandouw from the Ratulangi Airport Management, and AirAsia Allstars.

**(From Left):** Rafail Walangitan, Consulate General of Republic of Indonesia in Kota Kinabalu; Drs Steven OE Kandouw, Representative of North Sulawesi Governor; Zamani Rafique, Director, Government Relations and ASEAN Affairs of AirAsia Malaysia; Julinus Jeffery Jimit, CEO of Sabah Tourism Board; and Rizal Aries Laksono, Acting General Manager of AP1 Sam Ratulangi Airport celebrating AirAsia Malaysia’s inaugural flight from Kota Kinabalu to Manado.

This new route reaffirms AirAsia’s commitment to providing more travel options from Kota Kinabalu, its second-largest hub in Malaysia for domestic and international destinations, with 30 routes and 387 flights weekly as a Group.

About AirAsia

In 2001, Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun purchased a struggling airline and transformed it into AirAsia, now the fourth largest in Asia. With over 200 aircraft and 21,000 staff across multiple countries, AirAsia focuses on affordability and inclusivity, flying over 800 million guests to 130 destinations. Their mission to serve the underserved is reflected in their tagline, “Now Everyone Can Fly.”

Written by

Priyal Dutta - Senior Correspondent/Editor

As Senior Correspondent and Editor at Safari India, I write about the people, businesses, and trends shaping the travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, and lifestyle industries. My work ranges from breaking news and exclusive interviews to in-depth features and industry analysis, with a focus on delivering accurate, balanced, and engaging stories. I enjoy uncovering the details behind every story and presenting them in a way that keeps readers informed and connected to an ever-evolving industry.