Carl & Ruhana
KOTA KINABALU: Despite the rising number of Covid-19 positive cases reported in Peninsular Malaysia, Philippine Airlines (PAL) and BEBC Sabah are happy to note the good response the inaugural Kota Kinabalu-Zamboanga City direct flight is receiving from the Sabah travellers.
This was disclosed by PAL (Malaysia) senior sales & marketing manager Ruhana Jamal and BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Sabah chairman Carl Moosom.
With the encouraging response from the government and private sector, Ruhana and Carl said they are confident that the newly created air linkages will be a roaring success for the ‘Land Below The Wind’ and the ‘City Of Flowers’ in the future.
“As of press time, we already recorded 65 confirmed bookings out of the 86 seats available for the inaugural flight,” Ruhana Jamal said.
She noted that many of the Zamboanga-bound passengers are businessmen, investors and traders coming from various parts in Sabah.
“We also have passengers coming from the Filipino community here,” she said adding that PAL is still offering a special promo fare (2 pax booking) until February 23.
Ruhana reiterated that the much awaited first flight is on schedule and no changes has been made contrary to some rumoured negative claims.
She said the flight would take one hour and 45 minutes using an 86-seater De Havilland aircraft also known as Dash-8, which used to be called the Bombardier Q400NG.
“PAL will be plying the new air link every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday … the aircraft will take off from Zamboanga City International Airport at 8am and will arrive Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 9.45am. It will commence its return flight at 10.45am on the same day and expected to arrive in Zamboanga 12.30pm,” the lady manager explained.
According to Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew who is also the State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, the aircraft will be given a traditional water salute upon arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) on March 31, while its passengers will be given a traditional welcome by the Sabah Tourism Board’s (STB’s) cultural troupe.
Meanwhile, Carl confirmed that he will be sending a big delegation from Sabah to participate in the inaugural flight next month.
He said the Sabah delegation will be jointly spearheaded by BEBC Sabah deputy chairman Datuk James Lim and its Tawau chairman Wong Thart Sin.
“I am not able to join the Zamboanga trip because I have to attend to a couple of top ranking government officials from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who will be arriving in Kota Kinabalu City also on March 31,” he said.
Carl reiterated that the newly created air linkages between the two fast growing cities is expected benefit both parties in terms of business developments in the context of BIMP-EAGA.
Replying to a question, Carl expressed optimism that the CONVID-19 outbreak will not affect the thrice weekly direct flights.
“We do not have any reported Covid-19 cases in Sabah neither positive cases reported in Mindanao particularly Zamboanga City … Health authorities of both borders are doing its utmost to contain the spread of the coronavirus,” he stressed.
On the part of Zamboanga, a reliable source said city officials under the leadership of Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar has prepared interesting itinerary programmes for the Sabah delegation.
Amongst others, the Sabah delegates will be given detailed briefing on the many business opportunities offered in the city, tour to various factories, Zamboanga Ecozone, and tourist attractions including business matching sessions and meetings with the local business chambers and organisations.