Malaysia's Sarawak state acquires MASwings a sister company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines.

• On Feb 12, Sarawak will officially take over MASWings, an airline owned by Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG).
• The sale and purchase agreement (SPA) has been finalised, and a formal signing ceremony between the Sarawak Government and MAG will take place soon.
• Last month, Abang Johari said Sarawak had completed its takeover of MASwings following a consensus on asset valuations reached between the Sarawak government and Malaysia Aviation Group.
• The regional carrier operates eight ATR 72 twin-turboprop aircraft which can seat 68 passengers on regional routes, and six Twin Otter short-haul aircraft which can seat 19 on rural routes.

After a series of delays, apparently, Sarawak’s state-owned boutique airline is nearing takeoff as the Sarawak State Government will finalise its takeover of MASwings on 12 February. The deal would make Sarawak the first Malaysian state to own an airline.

A sale and purchase agreement would be signed on that day between the Sarawak Government and Malaysia Aviation Group  (MAG) for the acquisition of the latter’s subsidiary. This is a big step that will change the aviation landscape in Sarawak, Malaysia's biggest and most resource-rich state.

Aiming to convert MASwings into an international airline,Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) Secretary of Commerce, Creative Industries and Arts Officer Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said they are keen to encourage the development of Sarawak's tourism sector, while improving the connectivity system to domestic destinations between countries.

According to the Minister of Tourism, the acquisition will expand the domestic and international flight network, as well as provide more travel options for Sarawakians and tourists alike.

Currently, MASWings only has a few Turboprop aircraft, but after the acquisition, major changes are expected to take place including the possibility of rebranding the company! Everything will be decided by Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Previously, the Sarawak Government and MAG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the acquisition of MASwings in October 2023. It was supposed to be finalised by 31 December 2024, but both parties decided to commission a third-party audit to determine the overall value of the company’s assets. 

On January 13, the Sarawak Premier said that the tenants were negotiating with the intention of holding MASwings before signing of the sale and purchase agreement (SPA).

Among the international destinations targeted by Sarawak's airline following the acquisition of MASwings are Germany, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.