Low-cost Eastar enters E. Malaysian market

 

SOUTH Korea's new low-cost carrier Eastar Jet's inaugural chartered direct Seoul-Kuching-Seoul flight will start Dec 24 this year, Sarawak Tourism and Urban Development Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin said Thursday.

He said about 120 Korean tourists are expected to be on board for six hour and 20 minutes on the B737-700 aircraft scheduled to land at the Kuching International Airport here on Christmas eve.

"Sarawak is desirous of collaborating with Eastar Jet in developing tourism opportunities in the state," he told reporters here Thursday.

"We are hopeful to tap into the Korean market and attract more tourists to the state with the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the chartered direct flights Seoul-Kuching-Seoul," he said.

Earlier, Manyin on behalf of the Sarawak state government and Eastar Jet's chairman Lee Sang-Jik signed the MoU at the minister's office here Thursday.

Eastar Jet, solely owned by KIC Group, made its maiden flight from Gimpo International Airport to Jeju International Airport on Jan 7 this year, and recorded the highest load factor from January to June this year in the domestic flights.

Manyin said the state would promote its golf courses here to attract golfers from South Korea to Sarawak.

"Golfing is an expensive sports in Korea. The cost of golfing for one month in Korea is equivalent to one year in Sarawak. We are targeting the eight million golfers in South Korea to play cheap golf in Kuching," he said.

Lee said Eastar Jet was planning to fly to the resort city of Miri in Sarawak.

"We are still in talks with the Sarawak state government," he said.

On the chartered direct flight Seoul-Kuching-Seoul, Lee said more than 1,300 Korean tourists have been booked in the 11 flights, scheduled between Dec 24 and January next year.

The flight frequency is one in three days.

Eastar Jet currently has a fleet of five B737s and will acquire an additional five by next year. - BERNAMA