Hornbill Skyways signs MoU with MAG to take over MASWings
Named
October 28, 2023
Abang Johari (centre) witnessed the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sarawak Government, Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd and Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad. - BERNAMA photo
Hornbill Skyways signs MoU with MAG to take over MASWings
Abang Johari (centre) witnessed the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sarawak Government, Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd and Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad. - BERNAMA photo
KUCHING: Sarawak-owned company Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd and Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate the acquisition of shares in MASWings Sdn Bhd for the management of rural air services.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the MoU will pave the way for more detailed discussions between the two parties to ensure the state gets a majority stake in MASWings.
"Right now, detailed discussions (will be held) between the Sarawak state government, the federal government and Khazanah Nasional Bhd, in particular. We want a majority stake and MAG may want a stake but the majority must be owned by Sarawak.
"In terms of the timeline, I will give them three months (to complete the acquisition process). If possible, we want to be fully operational and start flying next year," he said when met by reporters after the MoU signing ceremony here on Friday.
Hornbill Skyways which has operated aviation leasing services in Sarawak since 1977 has been mandated to take over the ownership of MASWings and operate rural aviation services in Sarawak and Sabah.
Abang Johari said the state government aims to make Kuching the main hub of the airline in addition to expanding the airline's route to regional destinations that involve about six to seven hours of travel such as Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and India.
However, MASWings will not be profit-oriented because the goal of its expansion is to serve the people, he added.
"That's our condition in the acquisition of MASWings. The model is different from other airlines, because we don't need to use a lot of aircraft, as long as they keep moving and flying, otherwise depreciation costs will happen," he added.
-- BERNAMA
