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Datuk Captain Chester Voo, Deputy CEO (Airline Operations) of AirAsia Aviation Group, Julinus Jimit, Sabah Tourism Board CEO as well as industry players at the AirAsia roadshow in Kota Kinabalu on 13 January 2025 to strengthen partnerships and align efforts in improving essential tourism touchpoints.
AirAsia's Sabah-bound Flight Plan
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AirAsia aims to attract five million guests to Sabah through Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Tawau by 2025, nearly doubling the 3.7 million arrivals recorded in 2024. This growth target includes both domestic and international travellers and underscores AirAsia’s commitment to enhancing the region's connectivity and supporting its economic development.
To facilitate this growth, the airline's expansion plans for 2025 include strengthening its network with 27 routes, comprising 13 domestic and 14 international connections to and from Sabah. These enhancements are expected to result in a 35 percent increase in flights, reaching over 51,500 annually, along with a 43 percent growth in seat capacity.
In 2024, AirAsia significantly contributed to Sabah's goal of attracting over three million visitors, transporting a large portion of these guests and solidifying its position as the leading airline supporting the region's connectivity and tourism growth.
To strengthen the region's tourism ecosystem, AirAsia is conducting a series of roadshows across Sabah to foster partnerships and align efforts in improving essential tourism elements such as accommodation, activities, transportation, and accessibility. The airline is also exploring strategic investments to enhance tourism infrastructure.
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Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group said: “Sabah is integral to AirAsia’s network, and we are proud to be the leading airline connecting the region to Malaysia and key international markets. Our ambitious 2025 goal of welcoming five million guests reaffirms this commitment, underscored by significant investments in operational capacity to increase flights and targeted marketing efforts. With higher arrivals, these initiatives have the potential to create substantial economic multiplier effects for the region and local businesses, fueled by a robust supply chain and increased tourist spending.
“Our growth in Sabah would not be possible without the impactful collaborations we have built with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and industry partners. To sustain this momentum, we strongly advocate for greater collaboration and shared incentives from key players in the tourism and hospitality sectors, including hotels and tourism players. By investing in joint promotions and supporting strategic routes, we can amplify tourism’s economic benefits for Sabah and maintain a steady growth trajectory.
“Complementing these efforts, AirAsia is making targeted investments in Fly-Thru offerings and expanding key routes in high-priority markets such as Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan. These initiatives are further strengthened by sustained campaigns to attract travellers from China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Together with our partners, we aim to position Sabah as a thriving global destination that benefits communities far beyond the airport and cements its standing as a world-class tourism hub.”
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Julinus Jimit, CEO of the Sabah Tourism Board, said, “AirAsia’s extensive network and continued investments have strengthened Sabah’s position as a key gateway for domestic and international travellers. We are excited to deepen our collaboration to enhance the region’s offerings further and ensure that all stakeholders are prepared to accommodate the projected increase in tourist arrivals resulting from AirAsia’s initiatives.”
In 2024, AirAsia and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) formed a five-year partnership to boost tourism by enhancing air connectivity in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and expanding links to the ASEAN region, North Asia, and Oceania until 2028.