Transport Ministry Mulls Direct Air Link To World Heritage Town Pakse

PUTRAJAYA, June 30 (Bernama) -- The Transport Ministry will study the feasibility of having direct air link to the world heritage town Pakse in Laos, Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said Wednesday.

"We will look into it. These are all commercial activities which are actually dependent on viability and passenger load.

"It's up to the airlines whether they are interested to fly or not to fly. They have to study whether the air route is profitable to them or not," he said.

Earlier, Kong handed excellent service awards to his ministry staff.

Early this month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will ask budget carrier AirAsia to look into adding a second destination to Laos following a request from the Laotian Communications, Transport, Post and Construction Ministry.

Najib had said the Laotian minister made the request to him for direct flights to Pakse during his two-day visit to Laos recently.

Currently, AirAsia is the only Malaysian airline offering thrice weekly direct flights to Laos capital Vientiane though there has been talk that MAS was considering offering direct flights to the land-locked nation.

On AirAsia's plan to fly to Sydney, Kong said the ministry will look into the request.

AirAsia's long-haul arm, AirAsia X, is seeking the right to fly to Sydney as part of the airline's expansion plans and boost services to Melbourne and Perth.

AirAsia Group CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes had said in March the budget carrier hoped to start Kuala Lumpur-Sydney flights in June but was facing opposition from MAS.

- BERNAMA