It’s all systems go for Malindo Air, the country’s second low-fare airline, now that it has obtained the air operators certificate (AOC), giving it the right to provide commercial flights out of Malaysia.
This marks a significant change to the local travel landscape, as Malindo’s debut also heralds the addition of a third airline to the country’s aviation sector after AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
The AOC certification was obtained yesterday from the Department of Civil Aviation, providing the airline, in one fell swoop, domestic and international rights to operate both local and foreign flights out of any airport in Malaysia.
The airline’s inaugural flight will be from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, a sector that holds a lot of potential ever since Firefly’s jet operations ceased to operate over a year ago. This is despite the many flights offered by both AirAsia and MAS.
Malindo is a joint venture between Malaysia’s Nadi Sdn Bhd and Indonesia’s largest domestic carrier, Lion Air parent PT Lion Grup.
The airline will be operating the B737-900ER aircraft, and its first aircraft is slated to arrive on March 15 followed by the second on March 19, after which it will be taking delivery of at least one aircraft every following month, translating into it having at least a dozen aircraft by the end of the year.
It would have flown to parts of South-East Asia by which time. It is also targetting to fly to China and India this year. In 10 years, Malindo would be operating a fleet of 100 aircraft.
Source: The Star
