Kota Kinabalu: Budget carrier AirAsia is aiming for five million guest arrivals in Sabah through Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Tawau this year, an increase from the 3.7 million arrivals recorded in 2024. AirAsia’s growth target covers both domestic and international travelers, underscoring its role in enhancing the region’s connectivity and economic growth.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the airline’s 2025 expansion plans involve strengthening its existing network of 27 routes, comprising 13 domestic and 14 international connections to or from Sabah. These improvements are projected to result in a 35 percent increase in flights, totaling over 51,500 annually, and a 43 percent growth in seat capacity.
AirAsia was instrumental in helping Sabah achieve its goal of over three million visitors last year, flying a significant number of these guests and reinforcing its position as the leading airline supporting the region’s connectivity and tourism growth. To boost the tourism ecosystem, the airline is conducting a series of roadshows across Sabah to strengthen partnerships and improve essential tourism touchpoints such as accommodation, activities, transportation, and accessibility.
AirAsia Aviation Group CEO Bo Lingam highlighted that the ambitious 2025 goal reaffirms the airline’s commitment, with substantial investments in operational capacity and targeted marketing efforts. These initiatives aim to create significant economic multiplier effects for the region and local businesses, supported by a robust supply chain and increased tourist spending.
The growth in Sabah is attributed to collaborations with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and industry partners. Lingam emphasized the importance of greater collaboration and shared incentives from key players in the tourism and hospitality sectors to sustain this momentum. By investing in joint promotions and supporting strategic routes, tourism’s economic benefits for Sabah can be amplified and maintain steady growth.
Complementing these efforts, AirAsia is investing in Fly-Thru offerings and expanding key routes to high-priority markets such as Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan. These initiatives are bolstered by campaigns aimed at attracting travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Together with its partners, AirAsia aims to position Sabah as a thriving global destination, benefiting communities beyond the airport and establishing its standing as a world-class tourism hub. Last year, AirAsia and STB entered a strategic five-year partnership to enhance air connectivity across the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and expand links to the broader ASEAN region, North Asia, and Oceania from 2024 to 2028.