Hornbill Skyways Sdn Bhd (doing business as Hornbill Skyways) is a regional aircraft charter service operating in towns and rural areas in Sarawak. The company slogan is "Wings to your Destination". The airline's head office is in North Pan Hangar at Kuching International Airport. It also has a corporate office in the city of Kuching and a regional office at Miri International Airport.

History

Hornbill Skyways was established in May 1977 as a private company operating one fixed-wing Cessna 421 and two Bell 206B Jet Ranger helicopters. The business idea was to provide air services to rural areas in Sarawak, as an alternative to river transportation at that time. In 1985, Hornbill Skyways was taken over by the government of Sarawak through share acquisition by Yayasan Sarawak (Sarawak Foundation) and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC). In 2007, the company had three fixed-wing aircraft and 11 helicopters. In 1980s, Hornbill Skyways started flying doctor service (FDS) to serve rural population that are out of reach of public health clinics. Since 1986, Hornbill Skyways helicopters are used to provide logistical operations to the interior during parliamentary and state elections. As of 2007, the company logged a total of 130,000 flying hours. The Government of Sarawak announced the plan of setting up its own boutique airline through Hornbill Skyways since December 2021.

Corporate affairs

The company main hangar is attached to Kuching International Airport. It also has a maintenance hangar in Miri Airport.

Fleet

Their current fleet consists of the following:

Historical fleet

The aircraft in the fleet are for the exclusive use of Sarawak government officials. From 2003 until 2008, Hornbill Skyways operated and maintained Dornier 228 owned by Sarawak Timber Industry and Development Corporation (STIDC). In 2003 Hornbill Skyways took over Vision Air Malaysia (subsidiary of Vision Airlines) together with 2 Dornier 228 after Vision Air Malaysia ceased operations. However Hornbill Skyways ceased operating the 2 Dornier 228 in 2008 when both aircraft were sold to other airline company in Mobile.

Incidents and accidents