MASwings (MY, Kota Kinabalu) is to be relaunched as an independent budget carrier in 2015 according to an official in Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (KNB). Khazanah is in the process of restructuring Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur International) with a view unveiling a new, profitable, market-driven airline by 2017.
Speaking to AINOnline on condition of anonymity, the official said a revitalized MASwings will also be equipped with a fleet of four leased jets all of which will be based out of the resort town of Kota Kinabalu. Initial services will consist of flights to destinations in China.
Despite the change in business strategy, MASwings will continue to operate a fleet of fourteen ATR72-500s and -600s, and five DHC-6s on internal flights to the country's more remote regions as well as to Tarakan and Pontianak in Indonesia and Puerto Princesa in the Philippines.
