Singapore's budget airline Scoot resumes flights to Kota Kinabalu

Singapore’s low-cost carrier Scoot has resumed its services to Sabah, making it the first international airline to do so. The Scoot Flight TR492 touched down at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport at about 9pm on Friday carrying 150 passengers, most of whom were foreign tourists. The aircraft was given a water cannon salute as it arrived and passengers were given a warm Sabah welcome by a group dressed in traditional cultural attire as they entered the arrival gate. State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai was on hand to greet Scoot passengers and hand out goodie bags. Scoot launched its first direct flight from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu on Dec 3, 2019, but its operations were halted when the global Covid-19 pandemic struck the following year, affecting the tourism and airline industries. Prior to the pandemic, Kota Kinabalu was Scoot’s eighth destination in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Kota Bharu, Kuantan, Kuching, Langkawi, and Penang.<br/>