Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin has taken the controls as Chief Executive Officer of AirBorneo, the newly launched Sarawak state owned airline, marking one of the most significant leadership transitions in Malaysian regional aviation in recent years and signalling the next chapter in the transformation of MASwings into a fully fledged state carrier.
Megat Ardian, formerly Chief Aviation and Strategy Officer at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), officially assumed the role on 1 January 2026, succeeding Bruno Navet who had led the airline through its early formative phase. The appointment was confirmed in November 2025 by AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd Chairman Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, who also serves as Sarawak State Secretary.
The new CEO brings decades of aviation experience to the role. Holding a Master’s in Aviation and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Megat Ardian has previously held senior positions at Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Saudi based low cost carrier Flynas before joining MAHB, where he held the Chief Aviation and Strategy Officer role until his transition to AirBorneo. His appointment was widely seen across the industry as a signal that the Sarawak government intends AirBorneo to operate as a commercially serious regional carrier rather than purely as a politically driven state vehicle.
AirBorneo’s creation has been one of the most consequential developments in East Malaysian aviation in over a decade. The Sarawak government formally acquired MASwings from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) on 12 February 2025 through a Sale and Purchase Agreement signed in Kuching, with what the state government described as zero liability terms. AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned entity of the Sarawak government, assumed full legal and operational responsibility from 1 January 2026, although the MASwings brand will continue to be used during the transition period as the AirBorneo identity is progressively rolled out.
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg has positioned AirBorneo as a strategic asset for the state’s economic development, framing it as a catalyst for tourism, investment and rural connectivity rather than purely a transport operator. At the takeover ceremony, the Premier described the airline as a vital ASEAN hub in the making, with ambitions to position Sarawak as Borneo’s aviation gateway.
Under Megat Ardian’s leadership, AirBorneo has already moved decisively on fleet renewal. The airline placed a firm order for eight new ATR aircraft, comprising five ATR 72-600s and three ATR 42-600s, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029 and purchase rights for four additional aircraft. The new turboprops will replace the airline’s aging fleet of eight ATR 72-500s inherited from MASwings, providing modernised capability across the Rural Air Services (RAS) network that connects communities across Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
Speaking on the fleet acquisition, Megat Ardian indicated that the new ATR-600 fleet would significantly strengthen the Rural Air Services network by offering improved comfort, greater efficiency and the operational capability required for regional connectivity. The new aircraft will also support specialised missions including medical stretcher operations, which are critical for remote communities where road access to major hospitals can take ten hours or more.
Beyond fleet modernisation, AirBorneo is exploring strategic partnerships and code share agreements with international carriers, including its former parent Malaysia Airlines, to expand network reach and global connectivity for Sarawak. The state government has indicated longer term ambitions for AirBorneo to operate flights to destinations including Germany, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand, although these expansion plans are framed as multi year objectives.
The transition has not been without challenges. AirBorneo faced public criticism over fare levels following the commencement of ticket sales, with some passengers expressing disappointment that prices remained similar to or higher than those previously charged by MASwings. Industry observers have noted that significant fare reductions would be difficult without continued government subsidies, given the cost intensive nature of operating rural air services and maintaining turboprop fleets on routes that are not commercially viable on a stand alone basis.
MASwings, prior to its transition, had operated more than 430,000 flights and carried over 19 million passengers, establishing itself as a vital service provider in East Malaysia. The continuity of these services under AirBorneo, alongside the planned modernisation, will be a defining test of Megat Ardian’s tenure as the airline navigates its first full year as a state owned carrier.
