KOTA KINABALU: The BIMP-EAGA Malaysia Business Council has termed AirAsia’s decision to terminate the Kota Kinabalu (Sabah)-Clark (Philippines) route as unfortunate but understandable.
Its chairman, Datuk Roselan Johar Mohamed said the passenger load had never been satisfactory and any other operator would have made the same decision.
“As a business entity, it is prudent on the part of AirAsia to cut losses rather than hold on to the route while hoping for better times,” he added.
He said it was also a route that did not allow for more than one operator based on traffic.
Roselan was commenting on a statement by AirAsia yesterday that it would withdraw its seven times weekly Kota Kinabalu-Clark route effective Feb 1, next year.
He said AirAsia’s choice of Clarke, instead of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, was a burden on passengers as they had to take land transport to reach Manila.
“Clark may be good to AirAsia, but certainly a problem for passengers in terms of the travelling time to Manila,” he added.
He said Cebu Pacific which at present plies the Manila-Kota Kinabalu route thrice weekly, was unlikely to take over the vacuum left by AirAsia due to the low passenger load.
“Cebu Pacific is further accredited with its own terminal at Manila International Airport and the advantage is most obvious,” he added.
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