SPRING BREAK IN JAPAN - OSAKA.

Last Monday, we flew to Kansai direct from Kota Kinabalu with Malaysia Airlines. They have  resumed their 2 x weekly flight utilizing B737-800 aircraft.. 

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The aircraft took off on schedule at 08:15 and Mt. Kinabalu came into view as the aircraft cleared the first layer of clouds.   

 Approaching Kansai International Airport for landing just before 13:45.

Landed Kansai at 13:55. CIQ clearance was prompt.as there was no other traffic. There was no crowd at the arrival concourse since it's not the peak hours..   

We took the Airport Limousine bus to Osaka city - it's almost an hour's drive to the bus terminal in Namba where our hotel was located.

 Feeling hungry after checking in our hotel, we had our afternoon tea with this "Wagyu" (Japanese beef) sandwich. 

For dinner, we selected a small "Izakaya" (a typical Japanese restaurant) for dinner. The food was fresh and delicious.    

 Fresh bean curd.

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"Sashimi" combination.

 Sardin sashimi with seaweed and spring onion.

A hot "pork nabe" to end the dinner.

 Before saying good night to my Japanese friends.

MALINDO AIR LANDED BKI !!!

22MARCH 2013, an important date in the aviation history of Sabah. A Malindo Air's brand new B737 900ER landed Kota Kinabalu! 

Their B737 900ER is fitted with 12 business class and 168 economy class seats offering full inflight services, like personal TV and meals. 

The airline would fly to 12 destinations by the end of 2013. They are looking at India, China and Indonesia. "We are now flying with two aircraft and will take delivery of two more in June," the CEO announced during the launching ceremony in Kota kinabalu yesterday. He added that the airline would have a fleet of 12 aircraft by year-end.

Malindo Air is also planning to make Kota Kinabalu a second hub, offering flights to/from Indonesia, Korea, Japan and China direct.  

With the new services, Sabah will have an improvement in air connectivity in the region. Let's hope the traveling public can continue to enjoy low fares from Malindo Air. 

Will Malindo Air be a threat to Air Asia? In my opinion, Air Asia will definitely lose some traffic if Malindo Air continues to offer low fares with added-on inflight service.

MALAYSIA'S NEW AIRLINE - MALINDO AIR

A brand new airline "Malindo Air" will fly the Malaysian sky before the end of this month. The airline is set to start operations on 22 March from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport using the 180 seats B737-900ER.   

 

This airline is targeting destinations within five and a half hour range. Initially they will provide 4 x daily to Kuching and 3 x daily to Kota Kinabalu offering a low fare of RM38 and RM68 respectively. These fares are relatively lower than Malaysia Airlines or even Air Asia.  A quick look at their website revealed that Malindo Air is operating with a hybrid business model. They provide full in-flight services in their Business and Economy class and yet they are offering low-cost carrier-type fares with 30kgs check-in baggage allowance for Business while 15kgs for Economy class.

Malindo Air is operating at high cost from the start. I hope they can continue to offer low fares all the time.

To be profitable, I believe that Air Malindo Air is looking beyond Malaysia, like the lucrative South east Asian routes.        

Currently, we have Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia and MASwing serving all the Malaysia domestic destinations and their load factors are just average except during the few peak months. Can Malindo Air survive?  

FOREIGN ARMED INTRUDERS IN SABAH - THE END IS NEAR?

Following an all-out assault on the intruder group using fighter jets and heavy artillery fire, the Inspector-General of Police told a news conference  that the police and army have achieved their objective in the operation. He also confirmed that the intruders did return fire but there were no casualities.

 Malaysian solders were seen firing towards Kampung Tanduo.

There was no immediate confirmation of how many intruders were killed in kampung Tanduo. According to the Inspector-General of police, both the Police and army were immediately deployed to "flush out" all the invaders after the bombing.  To date, 53 intruders have been killed while Malaysia police lost 8 men.  “Up to now the police have arrested 85 suspects whom we believe have some links with the intrusion,” said the Inspector-General of Police.

Let's hope the continuing action taken by our Police and Armed forces will end the conflict in the very near future. 

FOREIGN ARMED INTRUDERS IN SABAH - BREAKING NEWS!

Malaysian Security forces have launched an attack on the intruders in Kampung Tanduo, Felda Sahabat here this morning. As early as 07:00, three fighter jets bombed Kampung Tanduo before troops moved in. A press conference was held later with the present of Malaysian inspector-General of Police and an Army General confirming the attack. However, they did not provide any further details.  One of the fighter jets seen above Kg Tanduo, Lahad Datu, Sabah. The villagers of Kg. Sg Merah, a village neighbouring Kg Tanduo, fleeing the village upon hearing loud explosions.  We hope that this will be the final episode ending almost a month of stand-off between  Malaysia forces and the intruders.

FOREIGN ARMED INTRUDERS IN SABAH - LATEST!!!

The three-week siege by armed intruders, ended today with 14 killed and three wounded after Malaysian security forces exchanged gunfire with them. A Malaysian Online news also reported  a curfew has been in place at Lahad Datu town and surrounding areas since 4pm today. 

Twelve intruders and two Malaysian commandos were slain. The stand-off between the security forces and the group continued.