Najib urges AirAsia to move into KKIA's new terminal immediately

Najib signing on a plaque to mark the launching of Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

KOTA KINABALU: Low-cost budget carrier AirAsia has to immediately move to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport's (KKIA) main Terminal 1, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"They have exceeded their deadlines to move out,'' the Prime Minister told reporters after officially opening the KKIA main terminal building here.

AirAsia has been resisting the move to KKIA Terminal 1 for nearly two years, while other budget carriers have moved into the RM1.7bil complex, completed in 2010.

Najib said that the plan was to convert the older Terminal 2 into a dedicated terminal for cargo and air services.

Earlier in his speech, he said that moving all airlines to the main terminal was part of Government efforts to turn Sabah into a regional hub, which would have an impact on the state's growth.

He said many international carriers were already flying into KKIA, which was capable of handling up to nine million passengers a year.

He said that the main terminal was still underused and it was best for all airlines to use the terminal as it was more convenient for travellers with its many facilities.

"I am told travellers using the old terminal have to stand in queues that sometimes went outside the building,'' he said.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, in his speech, said that the new Terminal 1 complex would enable more airlines to fly to Sabah.

"Kota Kinabalu is a popular tourism gateway as well as a thriving industrial and commercial centre. It needs a state-of-the-art airport to cope with the growing demand,'' he said, adding that in 2014, the airport handled a total of 6.79mil passengers with 3.19mil passengers at the main Terminal 1 with the rest at Terminal 2.

He said a total of 14 airlines operate out of Terminal 1, which has 12 aerobridges to cater for both narrow and wide-bodied aircraft.

"Terminal 1 is equipped with 64 check-in counters for domestic and international flights,'' he said, adding that KKIA not only improved connectivity in the region, but was expected to have spill-over effects in terms of facilitating access to rural areas of Sabah.

Source: The Star | 16 September 2015