Business Times, Malaysia, November 6 2006
DATUK Tony Fernandes has been one of the most consistent proponents of an open skies policy between Malaysia and Singapore.
The AirAsia chief executive officer, early on in the budget airline’s existence, sought to capture additional rights to fly into the island republic. His latest bid has the Government’s support.
A meeting between Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and his Singapore counterpart Raymond Lim in August indicated that both governments are favourable to the idea.
Fernandes sees the open skies policy as a means to help turn Malaysia into a regional low-cost carrier (LCC) hub and channel some of the tourist traffic from Changi Airport to the KL International Airport in Sepang (KLIA).
“There are concerns that KLIA will suffer a ‘slow death’ if we open up our skies to Singapore. It is already happening. For years KLIA has been trying, and failed, to position itself as a regional airline hub.
“Malaysia should take advantage of AirAsia’s strength to dominate the region’s LCC business,” Fernandes told Business Times.
And what better time to do it than with Visit Malaysia Year 2007, he added.
