Early this week, Bernama News Agency reported that Amrose Air was a subsidiary of Emaslink New Pacific Management, a wholly owned Bumiputra company involved in management services, and part of Emaslink's diversification into the unscheduled charter-flight industry.

Emaslink vice president Rosmawati Ismail said the airline, with its slogan of "Amrose Flying People", would focus on umrah and hajj packages, especially for Malaysia's Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang states and the southern Thai provinces.

"There is a big demand for the service, as people from these areas now have to fly either to Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok for their connecting flights. Flying from Kota Bahru will make travelling much easier, and we hope to provide them the service," she said.

The airline expects to take off early next year with possibly four or five services monthly to Jeddah, carrying umrah travellers for a start.

Rosmawati said she had discussed the matter with travel agencies and umrah and hajj operators from the East Coast and southern Thailand, and the response had been good.

She said Amrose Air also hoped to fly hajj pilgrims from southern Thailand directly from Sultan Ismail Petra Airport.

Rosmawati said the airline planned to work with tourism operators to offer packages to East Coast islands besides other destinations in the region.

She added that Amrose Air was scouting for two aircraft - a medium- to long-range and a short-range aeroplane - either to buy or to lease.

The Nation

Kota Bharu, Malaysia