Berjaya Air

Berjaya Air is a Malaysian airline associated with the Berjaya Group and operated through Berjaya Land. Established in 1989, the carrier began under the name Pacific Air Charter before adopting the Berjaya Air identity. Its headquarters and operating base are at the Berjaya Hangar in the SkyPark Terminal Building at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor. The airline has historically combined scheduled regional flying with charter operations. Its network has included Malaysian leisure destinations such as Redang, Langkawi and Penang, as well as selected international points in Singapore and Thailand. The carrier has also been linked to tourism activities connected with Berjaya's hospitality and resort interests, particularly the Redang route serving visitors to the Berjaya-linked Taaras Beach & Spa Resort. A themed aircraft and service known as the Jojo Flight was introduced to support sea-turtle conservation awareness on Redang Island; its name refers to a resident turtle associated with the resort. Berjaya Air's operating model has changed over time. In earlier periods it used regional turboprop aircraft, including de Havilland Canada Dash 7s, ATR 72s and Harbin Y-12s, to serve island and short-haul routes. In 2013, the airline announced a shift toward Executive Business Premium Jets from Subang Skypark, targeting corporate and high-net-worth travelers in addition to its leisure-oriented regional market. By 2018, reference material described the airline as operating charter flights only, while also reporting plans to obtain ATR 42 aircraft for renewed services linking Redang with Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The airline has maintained a connection to business aviation through charter aircraft, including a Bombardier Challenger 300. Later fleet plans and acquisitions described in reference material indicate an effort to expand both premium regional turboprop and private-jet capabilities. These plans include ATR 72-600 aircraft configured with all-business-class cabins, a Bombardier Global 6500 acquired in 2025, and an ATR HighLine aircraft ordered and acquired in 2026. Because fleet and route information can change rapidly, the airline's active destinations and aircraft should be treated as time-sensitive. Berjaya Air has also experienced operational incidents. In 1995, a Harbin Y-12 operating from Tioman to Subang collided during taxiing with a parked Pelangi Air Dornier 228; all 19 occupants were reported safe, although the Berjaya aircraft was written off. In 2019, a ground worker was fatally struck by a Bombardier Challenger 300 during a charter operation from Subang to Jaipur. The aircraft sustained severe left-wing damage and was subsequently written off. These incidents are operational-safety events rather than evidence of a broader corporate scandal. Overall, Berjaya Air occupies a niche between regional island connectivity, resort-linked tourism aviation, charter flying and premium business aviation. Its identity is closely connected to the Berjaya corporate and hospitality ecosystem, while its route structure and fleet have evolved according to tourism demand, charter opportunities and premium-travel strategy.

Berjaya Air was established in Malaysia and began operations in 1989. The airline was formerly known as Pacific Air Charter and later operated under the Berjaya Air name within the Berjaya corporate group. Its base has been associated with Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor, where the airline's head office is located in the Berjaya Hangar at the SkyPark Terminal Building. Earlier offices were located at different terminals at the same airport, including Terminal 3 and, during the early 1990s, Terminal 2. During its earlier development, Berjaya Air operated short-haul regional aircraft suited to island and low-volume routes. Its fleet history included de Havilland Canada Dash 7-100 aircraft, ATR 72-500 turboprops, Harbin Y-12 aircraft, Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders, Bell 206 Long Rangers and a Cessna Citation II. These aircraft supported a mixture of scheduled services, regional connectivity and charter activity. The airline's destinations and commercial emphasis were closely connected to Malaysia's tourism economy, particularly destinations that are difficult or inconvenient to reach by road or ferry. A notable part of the airline's tourism-oriented identity has been its Redang operation. Berjaya Air has linked Subang with Redang Island, serving travelers visiting the island and the Berjaya-associated Taaras Beach & Spa Resort. To promote marine and sea-turtle conservation, the airline used a specially decorated aircraft featuring a sea turtle and underwater imagery. The service became known as the Jojo Flight, a name inspired by a turtle resident at the resort. This initiative combined destination marketing with an environmental-awareness message. In 2013, Berjaya Air changed its business model by offering Executive Business Premium Jets from Subang Skypark. The move broadened the airline's proposition beyond conventional regional passenger services and targeted corporate and premium travelers. By 2018, available reference material characterized Berjaya Air as operating charter flights only, while also reporting a plan to acquire two second-hand ATR 42-500 aircraft. Those aircraft were intended to support flights from Redang to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, suggesting an attempt to reconnect the carrier's charter and scheduled operations with its resort and island-travel market. The airline's fleet strategy subsequently emphasized premium and specialized aviation. It maintained its operator's certificate with a Bombardier Challenger 300 used for charter flights. At the 2023 Paris Air Show, Berjaya Air ordered two ATR 72-600 aircraft with full business-class cabins. Reference material states that one was scheduled to arrive in February 2026 and another in October 2026. In May 2025, the carrier ordered and acquired a Bombardier Global 6500, described as the first aircraft of that model to be registered in Malaysia. Reference material also states that in May 2026 it ordered and acquired an ATR HighLine, characterized as the first aircraft built under that designation and the first customer placement. These future-dated fleet details should be verified against current airline and aviation records before being treated as definitive. Berjaya Air has recorded two notable operational incidents in the reference material. On 2 February 1995, a Berjaya Air Harbin Y-12-II, registration 9M-TAE, flying from Tioman to Subang, collided during taxiing with a parked Pelangi Air Dornier 228-202K. All 19 occupants were reported safe and uninjured, but the Y-12 was written off. The initial report suggested that a hydraulic-brake problem may have contributed. On 18 March 2019, a ground worker was fatally struck by a Bombardier Challenger 300, registration 9M-TST, during a charter operation from Subang to Jaipur. The aircraft suffered severe damage to its left wing and was later written off. The airline's reported network has included Subang as its Malaysian hub, Redang, Langkawi and Penang within Malaysia, Seletar in Singapore, and destinations in Thailand and Vietnam, including Hua Hin, Hat Yai, Koh Samui and Phu Quoc. Route availability is subject to change and should be checked against current airline schedules. Berjaya Air's broader identity remains that of a specialized Malaysian carrier combining resort-linked travel, regional island connectivity, charter flying and premium business aviation under the Berjaya Group umbrella.

• 2026

  ATR HighLine acquisition

  [1]Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material states that Berjaya Air ordered and acquired an ATR HighLine aircraft, described as the first aircraft built under that designation.

• 2025

  Bombardier Global 6500 acquisition

  [1]Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org

  The airline acquired a Bombardier Global 6500, reported as the first example of the model registered in Malaysia.

• 2023

  ATR 72-600 order

  [1]Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org

  Berjaya Air ordered two ATR 72-600 aircraft equipped with all-business-class cabins.

• 2019

  Fatal ground-operation incident

  [1]Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org

  A ground worker died after being struck by a Berjaya Air Challenger 300 during a charter operation. The aircraft was subsequently written off.

• 2018

  Reported charter focus and ATR 42 plans

  [1]Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material described the airline as charter-focused and reported plans to acquire two used ATR 42-500 aircraft for Redang services to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

• 2013

  Executive business-jet repositioning

  [1]Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org

  The airline introduced Executive Business Premium Jets from Subang Skypark as part of a revised business model aimed at business travelers.

• 1995

  Harbin Y-12 taxi collision

  [1]Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org

  A Berjaya Air Harbin Y-12 collided with a parked aircraft at Subang during taxiing. No occupants were injured, but the aircraft was written off.

• 1989

  Establishment and start of operations

  [1]Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org

  Berjaya Air was established and began operating in Malaysia. It had previously been known as Pacific Air Charter.

A Berjaya Group-affiliated Malaysian carrier positioned around leisure destinations, island access, charter aviation and premium business travel.

• Scheduled and regional air transport · 1989

  Regional passenger flights

  Berjaya Air has operated short-haul services connecting Subang with Malaysian leisure and island destinations, including Redang, Langkawi and Penang. Its regional model is suited to tourism flows and destinations where direct air access provides an alternative to longer road, ferry or connecting-airline journeys. Route availability and scheduling have changed over time.

• Charter aviation

  Charter flights

  Charter flying has been an important part of Berjaya Air's operating model, particularly during periods when scheduled services were limited. The airline has used business and regional aircraft for customized passenger movements and has maintained charter capability through aircraft such as the Bombardier Challenger 300.

• Business aviation · 2013

  Executive Business Premium Jets

  Introduced as part of the airline's 2013 business-model change, Executive Business Premium Jets were intended for corporate and premium travelers departing from Subang Skypark. The offering positioned Berjaya Air closer to private and executive aviation than to a conventional mass-market airline.

• Tourism-linked air service

  Jojo Flight

  Jojo Flight is a Redang-linked service promoted with an aircraft design depicting a sea turtle and underwater scenery. The initiative supports awareness of sea-turtle conservation on Redang Island and takes its name from a turtle associated with the Taaras Beach & Spa Resort.

• Premium regional aviation · 2023

  ATR 72-600 all-business-class service

  Berjaya Air ordered two ATR 72-600 aircraft configured with all-business-class cabins. The aircraft represent an effort to combine turboprop economics and regional access with a premium cabin product aimed at business and high-value leisure travelers.

• Jojo Flight sea-turtle conservation promotion

  Malaysia · Redang Island

  Berjaya Air used a specially decorated aircraft featuring a sea turtle and underwater imagery to promote sea-turtle conservation on Redang Island. The campaign was connected with the island's tourism ecosystem and the Taaras Beach & Spa Resort.

  Outcome. The themed service became known as Jojo Flight and linked destination marketing with an environmental-awareness message.

  Source

• 2023

  Order of all-business-class ATR 72-600 aircraftProduct launch

  Background

  Berjaya Air pursued a premium regional-airline concept using turboprop aircraft configured for business-class travel.

  Action taken

  The airline ordered two ATR 72-600 aircraft with full business-class cabins.

  Aftermath

  Reference material scheduled the first delivery for February 2026 and the second for October 2026.

  Source

• 2018

  Planned reintroduction of ATR 42 regional servicesStrategy

  Background

  Reference material described the airline as operating charter flights and reported plans to restore or expand regional services linked to Redang.

  Action taken

  Berjaya Air announced the purchase of two second-hand ATR 42-500 aircraft for proposed Redang–Kuala Lumpur and Redang–Singapore routes.

  Aftermath

  The plan indicated an intention to reconnect the airline's charter capability with scheduled island and resort travel.

  Source

• 2013

  Shift toward executive business aviationStrategy

  Background

  The airline sought to broaden its role beyond conventional regional passenger flying and address demand from corporate and premium travelers.

  Action taken

  Berjaya Air began offering Executive Business Premium Jets from Subang Skypark.

  Aftermath

  The move established premium and charter aviation as an important part of the brand's positioning.

  Source

1. 1Berjaya Airen.wikipedia.org