Flight services from Subang to Pangkor Island have not received an encouraging response as people prefer the land route compared to the air route.
This is following the short traveling distance and time between the two locations.
Executive Councillor for Housing, Local Government and Tourism, Dato’ Nolee Ashilin binti Dato’ Mohammed Radzi said that presently the company involved, SKS Airways Sdn Bhd has to postpone the operations of the route temporarily.
“Not because there are no tourists coming to Pangkor but most of them choose to use the road to get to Pangkor Island.”
“The travel distance from Kuala Lumpur to Pangkor is quite close, so people may prefer to use the highway.
“The company decided to suspend the flights to Pangkor on May 29.
“The state government is also saddened when this happens. But it is their decision to suspend, and possibly resume during the peak season,” she said.
She said so at a press conference after attending a townhall discussion programme, ‘Towards Safe Tourism in Perak’ as well as the launch of the Perak Police’s Tourism Unit which was officiated by Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid on Thursday.
Nolee added that although the flight received a lack of response, the tourist arrivals at the island still recorded an encouraging number.
“The number of tourists who come to Pangkor has not lessened, in fact it is increasing at the moment,” she said.
On Tuesday, the media reported that the airline that offered flights to bring tourists from Subang to Pangkor Island, SKS Airways, was urged to intensify promotions to bring tourists to the island.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Saarani Mohamad said it was to overcome the shortage of tourists coming to the island by air, causing the company’s flight operations to Pangkor to be postponed.
A check on the company’s official website and Facebook found that flights to Pangkor Island are no longer offered. Only flights to Tioman Island, Pahang and Redang Island, Terengganu are available.
The flight for the said route was launched on January 25.
Rosli
