Malindo Air to suspend KL-Miri sector indefinitely

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KUCHING: Malindo Air will suspend its Kuala Lumpur-Miri route starting next month, barely four months after its inaugural flight to the resort city.

The reason for the suspension is unknown.

Malindo had commenced its once-a-day flight to Miri with much fanfare on June 14.

It is also learnt that the airline had also suspended its KL-Tawau sector, which was launched on June 26.

A source from the airline yesterday confirmed the suspicion of travellers and customers who noticed something amiss when they tried to book KL-Miri and Miri-KL flights in November.

The source advised those who were affected, especially those who had already purchased tickets, to contact Malindo Air sales office.

Describing it as ‘indefinite suspension’, the same source was hopeful that the route would be back again early next year.

Travellers had suspected the Miri route was suspended after failed attempts to book tickets for November and beyond.

After they searched for flights and tickets rates during those months at the airline’s website, they were met with ‘Flights not available for the searched dates’ response.

A The Borneo Post reader, who goes under the name ‘Penerbang Risau’, had expressed his disappointment with the airline for not informing customers about the route suspension.

He said he had purchased a ticket in November, and when he wanted to buy another ticket online, he could not proceed with the transaction.

What puzzled him more was that every time when he approached the counter or contacted the call centre, he was told the schedule for flights and tickets rates were not out yet for the Miri route.

“Only when I called up the call centre again that I was told the Miri route had been suspended. The big question here is why was the public not informed?”

With Malindo Air pulling out of Miri, tourist arrivals to the resort city could be affected in spite of efforts by the government to improve air connectivity to the state.

Miri, the second largest city in Sarawak with a population of about 350,000, is the birthplace of Sarawak’s and Malaysia’s petroleum industry.

It is also the main tourist gateway to Gunung Mulu National Park, Loagan Bunut National Park, Lambir National Park and the Niah Caves.

The world famous Gunung Mulu National Park is one of the favourite eco-tourism destinations in the world. Recently, Miri also gained widespread attention for its exotic coral reefs.