Sarawak Eyes 5 Million Visitors with New Air Connectivity
Sarawak is gearing up for a tourism boom in 2025 as it prepares to launch its own airline and potentially build a new airport to boost regional connectivity. The Malaysian state, under the leadership of Premier Abang Johari Openg, formally acquired MASwings from the Malaysia Aviation Group earlier this year, with plans to rebrand the carrier as Air Borneo. The move is part of a broader strategy to achieve self-reliance in air services and stimulate economic growth by offering lower airfares and expanded route options.
Air Borneo is expected to target key international markets, including Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Germany, although specific details of these routes will be finalized after the airline’s official launch in 2026. Currently, MASwings operates a leased fleet comprising eight ATR 72-500s and six De Havilland Canada DHC-6-400s, with an additional two ATR 72-600s on order, according to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database.
To support future growth in air traffic and accommodate increasing passenger demand, Sarawak is also planning to construct a new air gateway. The proposed facility, to be built in Tanjung Embang near the state capital, is part of a massive MYR100 billion ($22 billion) investment initiative aimed at transforming Sarawak into a regional aviation and sea hub. This new airport is expected to eventually replace Kuching International Airport and is projected to be completed by 2032.
At Routes Asia 2025 in Perth, Deputy Tourism Minister Sebastian Ting highlighted the significant progress Sarawak has made in boosting its tourism numbers. In 2024, the state welcomed 4.83 million visitors, comfortably surpassing its previous target of 4 million. Encouragingly, in January 2025 alone, visitor arrivals increased by 13.4% year-over-year, reaching 400,531. Ting expressed optimism that, with stronger performance expected in the second half of the year, Sarawak is well positioned to meet or even exceed its new target of 5 million visitors in 2025.
The new airline and airport projects are integral to Sarawak’s strategy to enhance air connectivity, reduce travel costs, and create a more efficient transport network. By taking control of its own air services, Sarawak aims to streamline operations, foster regional partnerships, and stimulate a surge in both domestic and international travel. The anticipated improvements in connectivity will not only support tourism growth but also facilitate smoother cargo movements. This could include increased exports of Australian seafood to China and more efficient imports of Chinese-made goods into Western Australia, further strengthening regional economic ties.
With these bold initiatives, Sarawak is setting a precedent for how targeted investments in aviation infrastructure and strategic air service management can drive tourism and economic development. As the state moves closer to launching Air Borneo and the new airport project, it continues to focus on creating a robust, sustainable travel ecosystem that will attract millions of visitors and position Sarawak as a premier destination in Malaysia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
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