Malaysian startup SKS Airways is preparing to launch services using de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otters in the next few weeks.
SKS Airways spokesman, Nidzam Norwani, says the airline, which is a subsidiary of property developer SKS Group, is weeks away from obtaining its air operator’s certificate (AOC), which will allow it to start selling tickets. It is also in the process of certifying its initial fleet of four 19-seat Series 300 Twin Otters, he adds.
The airline’s strategy is to fly to several underserved tourist destinations in the country, Nidzam says. Nidzam declines to say which routes it plans to serve arguing that it is unable to disclose this publicly while the AOC process is still underway.
But on the airline’s website it lists Taman Negara, Langkawi, Pangkor, Redang and Tioman as potential destinations.
These destinations currently have no scheduled air services, with the exception of Langkawi island.
Taman Negara is a national park in peninsular Malaysia that has a small airstrip. Pangkor is an island off peninsula Malaysia’s west coast and Tioman and Redang are airports off peninsula Malaysia’s east coast. All these islands have resorts and are popular with tourists.
SKS Airways is based in the city of Johor Bahru, bordering Singapore, but Nidzam says the airline will most likely link destinations to Kuala Lumpur’s Subang Airport and Singapore’s Seletar Airport.
“When we get our AOC, we will start with four secondhand Twin Otters, with the possibility of getting more. The 19-seat size is good for new routes and can easily access smaller airports which are difficult to get to,” Nidzam says.
SKS Airways is SKS Group’s first foray into aviation. The property developer owns malls, offices and hotels across Malaysia’s southern state of Johor and in Perth, Australia.
