KOTA KINABALU, 19 October 2024 – As the largest airline operating in and out of Sabah, AirAsia reaffirms its commitment to supporting the state’s ambitious goal of attracting three million tourist arrivals by the end of this year.

With a growing network of domestic and international routes, AirAsia continues to play a vital role in boosting Sabah’s tourism sector and strengthening its position as one of Asean’s premier travel destinations. Currently, AirAsia operates 11 domestic and 18 international routes from Kota Kinabalu, making it easier for both local and international travellers to access Sabah’s diverse attractions.

In line with Sabah’s tourism growth, AirAsia is gearing up to further enhance its contribution by hosting the AirAsia Travel Fair at Imago Shopping Mall in Kota Kinabalu starting today 19 to 20 October 2024. The fair will offer incredible discounts of up to 25 percent off flights and 50 percent off baggage fees, providing Sabahans and international travellers alike with the opportunity to explore both domestic and international destinations affordably. For guests travelling between Kota Kinabalu and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB), AirAsia also offers the all-in AirAsia Plus package from RM159 for a smoother journey.

Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, Managing Director of AirAsia Malaysia said: "As Sabah continues to attract more visitors, AirAsia is proud to support the state's tourism goals and play a key role in its journey towards achieving three million tourist arrivals this year. Our extensive route network and exclusive travel fair are part of our ongoing commitment to making Sabah accessible to travellers from around the world and providing Sabahans with the opportunity to explore intra-Sabah and new destinations.

"AirAsia's role in supporting Sabah's tourism extends beyond simply flying people out of the state; we also bring in a steady influx of visitors from across the globe and create local jobs in the region in the areas of hospitality and more. To date, we have flown almost two million guests into Sabah since January 2024 and our top five international destinations are Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou. This has not only contributed to the state’s impressive tourism figures but has also helped to stimulate the local economy through increased visitor spending on accommodation, dining, and tourism-related activities.

"As Sabah moves towards surpassing two million tourist arrivals and aims to reach three million by the end of the year, AirAsia stands ready to support this growth. With our unrivalled connectivity and commitment to delivering affordable travel options, we remain a crucial partner in Sabah’s tourism journey, helping to solidify its reputation as a must-visit destination in Asean."

This year, the airline has significantly expanded its connectivity with the introduction of new routes to Subang, Manado, Kaohsiung, Ho Chi Minh City, Kunming and Shantou with more destinations planned in the coming months. In addition to these direct services, AirAsia’s Fly-Thru network provides seamless connections to over 130 destinations, including key cities like Melbourne, Tokyo, and Bangkok.