LANGKAWI: After waiting for six years, flydubai has finally become the latest international airline to operate daily direct flights to Langkawi island, with its inaugural flight today.
Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) chief executive officer Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid said the initial lobbying began in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Following this, the discussion between both parties (Lada and flydubai) resumed in November 2022, before the company expressed its intention to commence scheduled flights to Langkawi, with Lada also offering incentives.
"flydubai then made its official announcement to open the route to Langkawi on Sept 21 last year… finally, the six-year dream becomes a reality," she said today.
Haslina said with flydubai, Lada is targeting 185 scheduled flights on Langkawi island weekly, thus increasing the number of tourists.
flydubai flight FZ1603 departed from the Dubai International Airport and arrived at Langkawi International Airport at 4.45pm today.
Earlier, its Boeing 737 Max aircraft had a one hour transit in Penang International Airport.
The aircraft was greeted with a water cannon salute, while the passengers were celebrated with a procession of the 'bunga manggar' (traditional Malay decorative item), 'sireh junjung' (a traditional Malay arrangement of betel leaves and other items, traditional drum beats, and a presentation of souvenirs.
Also present were Langkawi District Officer Mohamad Subhi Abdullah and Langkawi International Airport manager Che Sulaiman Che Pa.