KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will be seeing the launch of its latest commercial airline, SKS Airways, at the end of this month.
The new national carrier is expected to kick off with an official launch on January 25, slated to be attended by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah airport in Subang, said a person familiar with the matter.
According to a media invitation for the event, SKS Airways Sdn Bhd said it is now ready to fly the skies “with a clear strategy and focus on unserved and underserved routes and destinations”.
The official launch, which will take place around 10am on January 25, will see Wee sending off the inaugural flight of SKS Airways from Subang to Pangkor Island, Perak.
The spokesperson said the inaugural flight will be a “private” one carrying several delegates and the media, who would be greeted by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and other state government officials upon arrival in Pangkor.
“The flight is the only one for the day, while flights open to the public would take off the following day (January 26).”
At the event, SKS Airways is expected to share more about its brand, business direction, and what Malaysians can expect from the airline, which is tipped to be the new alternative for air transport for quick getaways.
Local daily The Sun recently quoted SKS Airways director Datuk Rohman Ahmad as saying that the airline will take off with four DHC6 Twin-Otters turboprop aircraft that can carry up to 19 passengers each.
The launch of the new carrier comes after the nation’s Civil Aviation Authority granted the company an air operator’s certificate, which came three months after the government agency assessed the airline's business model.
Rohman also said the airline is also expected to grow its fleets with three ATR-72s, which will be deployed for cargo usage.
An aviation expert also told The Sun that the airline will be focusing on the nation’s resort islands, which was a yet-to-be explored niche market.
Among other upcoming destinations, SKS Airways will kick off with flights to Pangkor Island, Redang Island in Terengganu, and Tioman Island in Johor.
According to its website, fares range between RM139 and RM249 for a one-way journey. – The Vibes, January 13, 2021
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