Borneo Airways
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Founded | 1957 | |||
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Ceased operations | 1965 (acquired by Malaysian Airways to form Malaysia-Singapore Airlines) |
Borneo Airways is a former airline based in British Borneo (Present-day Malaysian state of Sabah, Sarawak and State of Brunei Darussalam). There were two separate companies: Borneo Airways Limited (1950s-1965), and Borneo Airways (1997–1999).
The first Borneo Airways, known as Borneo Airways Limited (callsign: AB), was founded in 1957 as an airline serving British Borneo (Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei). Its history could be traced back to 1947, where it was previously known as Sabah Airways Limited, founded by Straits Steamship Company Limited and the government of British North Borneo. In 1962, the assets of Sabah Airways Limited was absorbed by Borneo Airways, after its registration in 1957. Before the acquisition of the air services, all air services in Borneo was handled by Malayan Airways. It was absorbed by then Malaysian Airways Limited (later known as Malaysia-Singapore Airlines, precursor of present day Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines) in 1965. On the moment of absorption, Borneo Airways known fleet are consisting of Douglas DC-3, Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer,De Havilland Dragon Rapide, and Douglas DC-4 as well.
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Founded | 1997 | |||
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Ceased operations | 1999 | |||
Hubs | Miri Airport | |||
Fleet size | 1 | |||
Destinations | 4 | |||
Parent company | Royal Brunei Airlines | |||
Headquarters | Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia |
In 1997, the 'Borneo Airways' brand was reborn after Royal Brunei Airlines decided to cease their joint-operation with Hornbill Skyways and set up a partnership with a Malaysia-based Corporate Centre Sdn.Bhd, for a new airline based in Malaysia, named Borneo Airways (not to be affiliated with Borneo Airways Limited), using a single Dornier Do-228, registered 9M-BOR, and operated using RBA IATA code and callsign. But in 1999, only a year after their first flight, the partner carrier Royal Brunei Airlines indefinitely suspended daily charters on its Malaysian points of Miri, Labuan and Mulu from Bandar Seri Begawan. After the suspension of flight on August 31, 1999, Borneo Airways disappeared from the pages of Malaysian aviation history.
Fleet
Borneo Airways (1957–1965)
Borneo Airways (1997–1999)
- 2 Dornier Do-228
- 1 Dornier Do-228 crashed on 6 September 1997
Destination
Borneo Airways (1950s-1965)
- Sarawak
- Labuan
- Brunei
- Brunei Town (present-day Bandar Seri Begawan)
- Anduki
- North Borneo (present day Sabah)
- Jesselton (present day Kota Kinabalu)
- Kudat
- Ranau
- Tawau
- Sandakan
- Lahad Datu
Borneo Airways (1997–1999)
- Malaysia
- Brunei Darussalam
Additional Info
- The Sarawak Steamship Company, responsible for shipping business in Sarawak, was their appointed ticketing agent.
- Borneo Airways Limited Headquarters was located at 32/33 Khoo Hun Yeang Street, which also houses The Sarawak Steamship Company Headquarters. They were also appointed agents for BOAC and Malayan Airways as well.The former building which previously houses both company still stands at its present location.
References
- Story of The Sarawak Steamship Company, Vincent H.K.Foo and Chai Foh Chin, 2001, Pg 103-105.
External links
- Borneo Airways timetable, 22nd January 1961
- Curtains for Borneo Airways, New Straits Times, Sept 4th,1999
- Photo of Borneo Airways DC-3 at old Tawau Airport 1964, travel.webshots.com
- Photo of Borneo Airways Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer, www.harrigers.co.uk
- Photo of Borneo Airways de Havilland Dragon Rapide, www.harrigers.co.uk
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