Plans to create a new regional airline have been unveiled by the Malaysian government.
The start-up carrier – flymojo – has signed a $1.47 billion deal with Bombardier for 20 new CS100 aircraft.
The deal with Bombardier includes the option to buy 20 more aircraft, taking its value up to $2.94 billion.
The start-up carrier would be based in Johor Bahru in the south and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah in east Malaysia.
Local reports said the airline was due to start operating from October this year.
Deputy transport minister Aziz Kaprawi said the airline would play a key role in improving air travel between the Malaysian Peninsula and other parts of the region.
“As the only airline utilising the southern corridor as its headquarters, flymojo will transform Senai [Johor Bahru’s airport] into a key regional aviation and logistics hub – augmenting the government’s initiatives in developing Iskandar Malaysia and the southern corridor, he said.
“Further strengthening Kota Kinabalu’s standing as a gateway into Malaysia, flymojo will also boost tourism into Sabah and Sarawak.”
The airline’s chairman Alies Anor Abdul added: “Born of the desire to make air travel a much-anticipated and longed for experience, flymojo is dedicated to providing value, and exceptional customer service that will focus on putting the human touch back into flying.
“We are confident that our model will resonate deeply with our passengers and that the use of the technologically advanced CSeries aircraft will transform the aviation industry in Malaysia and the region.”
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Mike Arcamone said: “With its strategic market footing and unique operations, flymojo is an ideal match for the all-new CS100 jetliner.
“The CSeries family of aircraft will enable new airlines such as flymojo to cover markets efficiently thanks to its exceptional economics, operational flexibility and widebody comfort, coupled with an unmatched environmental and noise footprint.
“The CSeries family of game-changing technology, and its two models – the CS100 and CS300 jetliners — provide airlines the capability for natural progression in terms of market coverage and passenger capacity.”
The plans come against a backdrop of three aviation disasters involving Malaysian aircraft in the past year – two operated by Malaysia Airlines and one by AirAsia .