KOTA KINABALU: The first AirAsia flight from Sandakan, AK6499, was welcomed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 1 here at 8.40pm with a water salute ceremony.
The airport fire and rescue team conducted the ceremony to mark the first flight of an airline into an airport.
At hand to witness were Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd chief operating officer Datuk Abd Hamid Mohd Ali and Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd KK airport senior manager Sunif Naiman.
"This is a symbolic gesture for first flight or first frequency, which we have practiced since 2002 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport," said Hamid.
Meanwhile, different reactions were received from passengers of the flight.
Chief engineer for a hotel in Sandakan, Tony Ichin who makes the monthly trip to his hometown Kota Kinabalu lamented about the long walk from the point of disembarking to the arrival hall.
"I didn't find much problem with Terminal 2 before, but I guess we don't have much say or choice on this," say the 41-year-old who has made such trips for the past one year and a half.
However, 27 year old Diane Chin said that was the norm for big international airports.
"It's better here (T1). Everything is centralised and we don't have to worry which terminal (we are landing) whether it's T1 or T2 and reduced confusion," said the government medical officer who was in Sandakan for a holiday.