Historic moment for Sarawak aviation as maiden AirBorneo flight from Kuching arrives at Mukah Airport
by Borhaniza Ali Basah · Borneo Post OnlineSIBU (Jan 2): The arrival of the maiden AirBorneo flight from Kuching at Mukah Airport at 9.19am today was a historic milestone not just for passengers aboard the ATR 72 flight but also for Sarawak’s aviation industry.
The aircraft, carrying 55 passengers, received a warm welcome with a ceremonial water salute.
Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine, Mukah Resident Datu Kueh Lei Poh, and representatives from the aviation industry were among those gathered to welcome the passengers.
Among the visibly proud passengers on the 55-minute flight was Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi.
“Alhamdulillah, the flight went smoothly and the weather was good. I was pleasantly surprised to see the fire brigade performing a water salute upon arrival in Mukah,” he said.
“I believe this is a historic moment, not only for myself but also for the entire Mukah division.”
Sharing his onboard experience, Abdul Yakub said the cabin service was comparable to that of MASwings.
“What caught my attention was the elegant cabin crew uniform and the attractive exterior design of the aircraft.
“In terms of comfort, I chose a seat at the rear, which offered relatively spacious legroom,” he said.
Fellow passenger Conny Andrew Ang also expressed pride and deep emotion being part of AirBorneo’s inaugural flight.
“I am very proud to be a Sarawakian and a Melanau returning to Mukah. In the past, during emergencies or family matters, I had to fly to Sibu first and then take a two-hour boat ride.
“The journey was uncomfortable, but now Mukah has a bridge and a modern, beautiful airport. I am truly grateful and proud,” she said.
She added that air connectivity is crucial to the town as there are tertiary institutions such as Universiti Teknologi Mara Mukah and Politeknik Mukah Sarawak, and is also a key destination for civil servants on official duties.
“The service was excellent. The maroon-coloured uniforms look elegant and reflect AirBorneo’s identity. The seats are comfortable and the cabin ambience is very pleasant,” she said.
She expressed hope that AirBorneo would increase flight frequency to Mukah in the future and expand its network across Borneo and to international destinations.
“We are very proud to have our own state-owned airline. I will certainly continue using AirBorneo’s services,” she added.
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