IPOH, Dec 18 — Flying Fox Airways, which has not been able to launch its Ipoh-Medan flights using Boeing 737-800 aircraft because of problems at the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, will lease smaller planes to kick off the service.
Its chief executive officer, Daniel Lee, said yesterday the airline was working with its code-sharing partner, Sriwijaya Air, to lease ATR-72 aircraft to begin operations by March.
Flying Fox had been told the airport, which recently underwent a RM42 million renovation, would not be able to accommodate Boeing aircraft after sinkholes were found on the runway.
The airline, which had initially been given approval to launch the service from last Friday, had sold flight tickets for up to next year, but Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad put the plan on hold after it carried out inspections at the airport in October.
“We are making arrangements with other airlines to reroute some of the flights while we have to refund the rest. We are still unable to ascertain our losses,” Lee said.
He said it would not make economical sense for the airline to buy an ATR aircraft because it was hoping to fly to other international destinations.
“Such an aircraft is more suitable for domestic routes,” he said.
Lee hoped the consultants engaged by the Transport Ministry to look into the sinkholes could release an initial report to them as soon as possible.
“Through the report, we will know how long to lease the aircraft so that we do not incur additional losses,” he said.
“The safety of our passengers is our top priority,” he said.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi refuted allegations the sinkholes were caused by the renovation at the airport.
He said sinkholes were common in areas near limestone hills.
