MIRI: Starting its flight bookings seven weeks ahead of schedule, newly formed airline Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) has helped Sarawak earn more than RM30mil in tourism revenue.

"The tourism industry players in Sarawak are very grateful to FAX and AirAsia for their very proactive and swift response to our plight," Geikie said.

"They have responded by taking bookings way ahead of schedule to head off potential cancellations from the 18,000-plus tourists. It has worked.

"Based on feedback from our tour agents over the past two days, it seems that almost all the bookings could be saved".

The 18,000-plus tourists, mostly from overseas, needed to get confirmed tickets now because they have to arrange months ahead.

AirAsia last week responded to the board's SOS by asking FAX (its sub-contractor for the rural air service sector) to start accepting bookings on June 12, seven weeks ahead of the Aug 1 official operation date.

(News extract from The Star Newspaper dated 14 June 2006)