SIBU: How about flying from Sibu to Kuala Lumpur for just slightly more than three plates of kampua?
Firefly announced this attractive promotional rate yesterday during a meeting together with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and the Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The meeting was to discuss better air connectivity, particularly once the Sibu Airport extension project is completed.
Firefly sales executive Mary Lee said the promotional Sibu-Kuala Lumpur fare is just 9 sen and including fees is RM9 per trip.
She said they had originally intended to run the low-fare trip from August, but decided to introduce it in July due to the overwhelming response.
There will be two trips from Sibu to Kuala Lumpur per day at 9.45am and 8.10pm.
The announcement was well received, with local travel agents and tour operators comparing the fare to ordering three plates of kampua.
Among those present during the discussion were Temenggong Vincent Lau, MAS Sarawak manager Mohamad Asif Abd Talib, Sarawak sales manager Moh Ung Chuang, head of state sales Aziz Ali and Sibu sales Effendy Abd Aziz, as well as Firefly Sarawak sales manager Harris Salleh, sales executive Hafiz Musammil and Mary Lee.
In a statement provided for discussion yesterday, travel agents and operators expressed concern over the number of flights between Sibu and Kota Kinabalu, which had been slashed from four daily to two.
“We have received lots of complaints from the students of Sabah University and businessmen travelling to Kota Kinabalu and to Tawau, Sandakan and Lahad Datu through connecting flights,” said the statement.
Agents and operators also requested MAS and MASwings to reinstate the cancelled flights at least during peak periods or change the flight schedule.
The agents and operators also expressed concern over the inconvenience of flying between Sibu and Johor Bahru.
Prior to the discussion, Lau stressed that air connectivity for Sibu is important as locals relied greatly on roads and flights for travel.
He hoped better air connectivity could be worked out through the discussion, adding that views from locals would help airlines chart outbetter timing and schedules for flights.