Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH, March 12 – The Perak state government has expressed disappointment over AirAsia’s decision to suspend its Ipoh-Singapore route, stating that the airline announced without prior consultation with the state government.
State Executive Councillor for Tourism, Industry, Investment, and Corridor Development, Loh Sze Yee, said the route had been enjoying strong demand, and its suspension could negatively impact Perak’s tourism and investment sectors.
“The data we have shows that the Ipoh-Singapore route has been well received. The decision to halt this service is concerning as it contradicts the state government’s efforts to boost air transport connectivity in Ipoh and Perak.
“The cancellation of this route is not an isolated incident, as it is among several routes affected by the airline’s latest decision. We fear this could hurt the state’s economic and tourism growth,” he said in a statement today.
He added that the state and federal governments are currently working on upgrading the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (LTSAS) to enhance its facilities and optimise air travel services in Perak.
“The airport upgrade, which is expected to be completed soon, will be officiated shortly. We urge AirAsia to reconsider resuming operations for the Ipoh-Singapore route, given its significant contribution to the local economy,” he added.
The Ipoh-Singapore flight service has been a vital air link for tourism and business, attracting travellers and investors to Perak.
“We hope this is only a temporary measure as the state remains committed to boosting air connectivity and ensuring continued accessibility to Ipoh,” he said.
For the record, AirAsia recently announced the suspension of several flight routes, including Ipoh-Singapore, as part of its latest operational review.
