New Airlines in Malaysia: What You Need to Know About Air Borneo
The Malaysian aviation market saw the launch of Air Borneo in 2025 as a new regional carrier focused on East Malaysian routes — primarily Sabah and Sarawak — to complement and challenge the existing MASwings and AirAsia connections in the region. For visitors based in Peninsular Malaysia looking to fly to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sandakan, Miri, or the smaller Borneo destinations, the new Air Borneo flights deserve attention as a competitive option that has affected the broader pricing dynamics for the region.
The Air Borneo Network in 2026
Air Borneo operates from KLIA and KLIA2 to multiple East Malaysian destinations including Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sandakan, Tawau, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, and the smaller Mulu and Limbang routes. The carrier also runs limited international services from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei and certain Philippine destinations. The fleet runs ATR turboprops on the shorter inter-Borneo routes and A320-family aircraft on the trunk routes from Peninsular Malaysia.
Pricing and Service Tier
Air Borneo positions as a mid-tier carrier between MASwings (the Malaysia Airlines East Malaysia subsidiary) and AirAsia. KL to Kota Kinabalu pricing on Air Borneo flights typically runs RM280 to RM550 return, similar to AirAsia but with included checked baggage and a light meal. KL to Kuching runs RM250 to RM480 return. The intermediate positioning aims for travellers who want better service than budget AirAsia but at lower cost than the full-service Malaysia Airlines.
Routes Where Air Borneo Wins
On the trunk routes between KL and Kota Kinabalu or Kuching, Air Borneo competes effectively on price-plus-service. For the inter-Borneo connections — Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu to Kuching, Miri to Mulu — the carrier offers more frequent service than MASwings on certain corridors. For visitors building multi-city Borneo itineraries, the Air Borneo network provides connectivity that the larger carriers may not match.
Booking the New Carrier’s Routes
The carrier’s direct booking website handles most reservations cleanly. Third-party platforms including Traveloka have integrated Air Borneo inventory alongside the major carriers, which simplifies comparison shopping for visitors weighing multiple options. For Malaysian visitors paying in MYR, Traveloka tends to be the most practical platform because Air Borneo flights alongside AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, and MASwings all sit in one search with ringgit pricing at checkout, accepting FPX, Boost, GrabPay, and Touch n Go. Compared with Agoda, which leads with hotel inventory, or Trip.com, which weights its catalogue toward Greater China rather than Southeast Asia, the regional platform consistently produces a cleaner end-to-end ringgit booking experience for Borneo travel.
Operational Reliability
Air Borneo’s first year of operations through 2025 produced reasonable but not exceptional on-time performance. Roughly 75 to 80 percent on-time arrivals on the major routes — slightly below AirAsia’s benchmarks but comparable to MASwings. For visitors with tight onward connections or schedule-sensitive trips, the AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines options may still deliver more predictable timing.
Baggage and Service Inclusions
Standard Air Borneo fares include 20kg of checked baggage, seat selection at booking time, and a light meal or snack on most flights. This puts the carrier between AirAsia (which charges separately for these) and Malaysia Airlines (which includes more elaborate service). For visitors who would normally add baggage and a meal to budget carrier fares, the all-in Air Borneo pricing often beats the equivalent AirAsia total cost.
Where the Carrier Faces Competition
The most direct competition for Air Borneo comes from AirAsia on the trunk routes — KL to Kota Kinabalu and KL to Kuching see heavy AirAsia capacity at base fares that frequently undercut Air Borneo even after add-ons. For pure budget travel, AirAsia remains the dominant option. For travellers wanting included baggage and basic service without the full-service premium, Air Borneo delivers a genuine middle-tier option.
A Practical Question on Choosing Carriers
Should I switch from AirAsia or Malaysia Airlines for the Borneo flights? For most trips, the existing carrier preferences should hold — AirAsia for budget priority, Malaysia Airlines for full-service preference. Air Borneo makes sense specifically for visitors who want included baggage and meals without paying the MAS premium, or for inter-Borneo connections where the frequency advantage matters.
What This Means for Borneo Travel Costs
The introduction of Air Borneo as a competitive third option has produced modest downward pressure on KL-East Malaysia pricing since 2025. AirAsia’s base fares have stayed roughly stable, but the all-in fare comparison once add-ons are included now favours visitors more clearly. The net effect is roughly RM50 to RM150 savings on a typical KL to Kota Kinabalu return trip compared to 2024 pricing patterns.
Final Thoughts
Air Borneo’s entry into the Malaysian aviation market has added meaningful choice for visitors flying between Peninsular and East Malaysia. The carrier’s mid-tier positioning between budget AirAsia and full-service Malaysia Airlines fills a gap that existed in the previous market structure. The single biggest planning lever remains booking through a trusted Southeast Asian platform that handles ringgit pricing cleanly across all the carrier options for direct comparison.
