Firefly disaran tambah laluan domestik dan antarabangsa pada tahun 2019 - 2020

SYARIKAT penerbangan Firefly perlu mengorak langkah dengan memperkenalkan beberapa laluan baharu yang dapat memastikan syarikat penerbangan milik penuh Penerbangan Malaysia (MAB) ini terus berkembang dan mencatatkan pertumbuhan pengendalian penumpang yang memberangsangkan. 

"Kegagalan" Firefly untuk beroperasi di Lapangan Terbang Seletar, Singapura mulai 1 Disember lepas disebabkan kegagalannya mendapat  kelulusan dan kebenaran daripada Pihak Berkuasa Penerbangan Awam Malaysia (CAAM) bukan sahaja menjejaskan operasi bagi laluan Kuala Lumpur-Subang - Singapura tetapi juga Ipoh - Singapura dan Kuantan - Singapura. 

Masalah atau isu kelulusan ini dijangka mengambil masa untuk diselesaikan oleh kedua-dua negara, iaitu Malaysia dan Singapura. Hal ini kerana selagi isu sistem pendaratan instrumen (ILS) di Lapangan Terbang Seletar tidak dapat diselesaikan Pihak Berkuasa Penerbangan Awam Singapura (CAAS) mengikut apa yang disarankan CAAM, selagi itulah harapan untuk Firefly beroperasi di lapangan terbang kedua di Singapura ini tipis. 

Oleh itu, Firefly perlu mengorak langkah dengan memperkenalkan beberapa laluan baharu untuk memastikan penggunaan angkatan pesawat komersialnya secara optimum. Hal ini kerana dengan penutupan laluan Firefly ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Changi, Singapura mulai 1 Disember lepas, tiada lagi perkhidmatan penerbangan antarabangsa yang ditawarkan Firefly dari atau ke Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Subang (LTSAAS), Lapangan Terbang Sultan Azlan Shah Ipoh (LTSAS) dan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ahmad Shah Kuantan (LTSAS). 

Antara laluan yang boleh dibuka semula oleh Firefly ialah Subang - Medan, Kota Bharu - Johor Bahru, Pulau Pinang - Kuantan dan Pulau Pinang - Kuala Terengganu. 

Penerbangan Sambungan Melalui Pulau Pinang 

Firefly juga disaran supaya menawarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan sambungan melalui hab utaranya di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang (PIA) melibatkan laluan-laluan seperti berikut: -

1. Kuala Lumpur-Subang - Pulau Pinang - Phuket (SZB-PEN-HKT)
2. Kuala Lumpur-Subang - Pulau Pinang - Banda Aceh (SZB-PEN-BTJ)
3. Kota Bharu - Pulau Pinang - Pulau Langkawi (KBR-PEN-LGK) 
4. Kota Bharu - Pulau Pinang - Phuket (KBR-PEN-HKT)
5. Kota Bharu - Pulau Pinang - Banda Aceh (KBR-PEN-BTJ) 

Perkhidmatan penerbangan sambungan melalui Pulau Pinang ini akan memudahkan seseorang penumpang contohnya dari Kota Bharu yang ingin ke Pulau Langkawi boleh transit di PIA berbanding di LTSAAS pada ketika ini. 

Lupakan Lapangan Terbang Melaka 

Setakat ini, hanya syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air yang beroperasi di Bandar Raya Melaka Bersejarah melalui laluan Melaka - Pulau Pinang dan Melaka - Pekanbaru. Syarikat penerbangan lain masih berkira-kira untuk beroperasi di Lapangan Terbang Melaka (LTM) yang bukan sahaja sukar menarik penumpang tetapi juga ia tidaklah begitu jauh dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) melalui Lebuh Raya Utara - Selatan (Lebuh Raya PLUS).

Pelbagai insentif telah ditawarkan Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) bagi menggalakkan syarikat penerbangan tempatan beroperasi di LTM seperti pengurangan kadar caj perkhidmatan penumpang dan pengecualian caj pendaratan pesawat untuk tempoh beberapa tahun. Namun, LTM masih gagal menyakinkan syarikat penerbangan tempatan terutamanya AirAsia untuk beroperasi.

Jadi, Firefly boleh lupakan dahulu LTM dan memberi tumpuan kepada beberapa lapangan terbang lain untuk pengembangan laluan terutamanya LTSAAS, PIA, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra Kota Bharu (LTSIP) dan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Senai Johor Bahru (LTAS). 

Kota Bharu Airport | www.kotabharuairport.blogspot.com 

Malindo Air gantung laluan Kota Bharu - Surat Thani mulai 31 Disember 2018

SYARIKAT penerbangan Malindo Air akan menggantung laluan antarabangsa Kota Bharu - Surat Thani berkuat kuasa 31 Disember ini. 

Semakan melalui laman sesawang Malindo Air (www.malindoair.com) mendapati bahawa penjualan tiket telah dihentikan untuk penerbangan dari 31 Disember 2018 dan seterusnya. 

Sejak laluan ini diperkenalkan, pihak Malindo Air langsung tidak melakukan apa-apa promosi sama ada di laman sesawang rasminya mahupun di media-media massa. Hanya laporan media pada 17 September 2018 bersempena dengan penerbangan sulung laluan ini sahaja yang "mempromosikan" secara tidak langsung. 

Menurut maklumat yang diperoleh, laluan ini hanyalah laluan bermusim (seasonal) atau sewa khas sahaja bagi membolehkan pelancong asing yang ingin tinggal lebih lama di Surat Thani atau Koh Samui memperbaharui visa mereka di Konsulat Thailand di Kota Bharu, Kelantan sebelum terbang semula ke Surat Thani, Thailand pada keesokkan harinya. Mungkin itulah sebabnya penerbangan hanya ditawarkan dengan kekerapa dua kali seminggu, iaitu pada setiap hari Isnin dan Selasa sahaja.

Penggantungan laluan ini menjadikan syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air hanya beroperasi bagi laluan Kota Bharu - Kuala Lumpur-Subang (KBR-SZB) sahaja dari lapangan terbang tersibuk di Pantai Timur ini. 

AirAsia Gantung Laluan Kuala Terengganu - Johor Bahru

Dalam pada itu, syarikat penerbangan AirAsia pula telah menggantung laluan Kuala Terengganu - Johor Bahru yang telah diperkenalkan sejak 22 Jun 2017 pada penghujung bulan November lepas. Laluan ini beroperasi dengan kekerapan tiga kali seminggu, iaitu setiap hari Selasa, Khamis, dan Sabtu. Faktor komersial dipercayai menjadi punca penggantungan laluan ini. 

Kota Bharu Airport | www.kotabharuairport.blogspot.com 

Lapangan terbang baharu bakal dibina di selatan Perak, landasan LTSAS dipanjangkan kepada 2.5 km

IPOH: Kerajaan Perak merasakan terdapat keperluan membina lapangan terbang baharu di negeri ini bagi menyaingi pembangunan pesat tetapi mungkin tidak dibina di Seri Iskandar seperti dirancang kerajaan terdahulu. 

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu berkata, pembinaan lapangan terbang baharu itu kini dirancang dibina di selatan Perak iaitu di kawasan berhampiran dengan lebuh raya. 

“Oleh kerana negeri Perak sedang membangun dengan pantas, jadi kita memerlukan lapangan terbang yang baharu. 

“Ia mungkin tidak dibina di Seri Iskandar kerana kerajaan negeri memikirkan ia lebih sesuai kalau dibuat di selatan Perak yang lebih dekat dengan Lebuh Raya Utara - Selatan (PLUS),” katanya pada sidang media selepas majlis pelancaran laluan penerbangan Air Asia Singapura - Ipoh di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Azlan Shah (LTSAS), Ipoh, hari ini.

Hadir sama, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pelancongan, Kesenian dan Kebudayaan negeri, Tan Kar Hing; Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perumahan, Kerajaan Tempatan, Pengangkutan Awam, Hal Ehwal Bukan Islam dan Kampung Baharu negeri, Paul Yong Choo Kiong dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif AirAsia Malaysia, Riad Asmat 

Ahmad Faizal berkata, pemilihan lokasi itu akan membuatkan Kerajaan Pusat atau negeri tidak perlu membina kemudahan laluan ke lapangan terbang baharu itu nanti. 

“Selatan Perak bermakna ia mungkin dibina di Tapah, Bidor, Behrang atau Tanjung Malim membabitkan daerah Muallim atau Batang Padang,” katanya. 

Ditanya sama ada LTSAS mampu menampung peningkatan jumlah penumpang, beliau berkata, setakat ini hanya 50 peratus daripada kapasiti lapangan terbang itu digunakan sepenuhnya, namun terdapat perancangan untuk memanjangkan lagi landasan sedia ada dan menambah baik atau memperbesar bangunan terminal sedia ada. 

“Kerajaan negeri juga sudah menerima beberapa cadangan daripada pihak swasta untuk membuat beberapa tarikan lain di sekitar lapangan terbang ini yang kita sambut baik dan jangka akan dimulakan tahun depan,” katanya. 

Ahmad Faizal berkata, projek memanjangkan landasan itu dijangka tidak memerlukan kawasan perumahan berhampiran dipindahkan kerana hanya membabitkan kedua-dua hujung landasan dengan keseluruhan pemanjangan sebanyak 500 meter dan akan menjadikan landasan mempunyai jarak 2.5 kilometer. 

Sementara itu, bercakap mengenai laluan baharu penerbangan AirAsia Singapura - Ipoh, beliau mengalu-alukan usaha dilakukan syarikat penerbangan terbabit yang juga laluan kedua dilancarkan selepas laluan Johor Bahru - Ipoh dilancarkan Oktober lalu. 

“Kerajaan negeri percaya perkhidmatan penerbangan terus empat kali seminggu laluan baharu ini akan membantu merealisasi wawasan menjadikan Perak destinasi pelancongan utama di Malaysia dan akan berusaha memastikan semua kemudahan berada dalam keadaan baik bagi menerima kedatangan lebih ramai pelancong,” katanya. 

Riad pula berkata, sejak pelancaran laluan Johor Bahru - Ipoh dua bulan lalu, pihaknya sudah membawa hampir 10,000 penumpang yang terdiri daripada warganegara China, Indonesia, India dan Singapura. 

“Laluan baharu Singapura - Ipoh ini adalah usaha kami memperluas rangkaian di Ipoh dan berharap dapat menyumbang kepada peningkatan pelancong yang mana kami juga merancang meningkatkan kekerapan jadual laluan ini dari empat kali seminggu kepada tujuh kali seminggu pada tahun depan,” katanya.

Sumber: Harian Metro | 3 Disember 2018

AirAsia mulakan semula penerbangan dari Kuala Lumpur ke Kuantan

KUANTAN: Syarikat penerbangan tambang murah, AirAsia Berhad (AirAsia) kini kembali menyediakan kemudahan penerbangan dari Kuala Lumpur ke Kuantan setelah operasinya dihentikan pada tahun 2008.

Pengurus stesennya M. Hari Tharan berkata penerbangan setiap hari menggunakan pesawat Airbus 320 itu bertujuan memenuhi permintaan yang semakin meningkat ke Pantai Timur.

"Setiap perjalanan boleh membawa 180 penumpang pada satu-satu masa dengan menggunakan pesawat Airbus 320.

"Pada penerbangan pertama hari ini seramai 141 orang telah tiba dari Kuala Lumpur ke Kuantan dan 157 orang lagi berlepas dari Kuantan ke Kuala Lumpur.

"Setiap hari AirAsia menyediakan satu perjalanan dua hala dan kita mungkin akan menambah bilangan penerbangan pada masa akan datang jika permintaan semakin meningkat," katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ahmad Shah di sini hari ini.

Hari Tharan berkata AirAsia kini menjadi pilihan utama orang ramai kerana syarikat tersebut berjaya mengekalkan perkhidmatan berkualiti dan selesa pada harga murah.

"Tambang bagi ke Kuantan adalah serendah RM35 dan ini mungkin menjadi salah satu tarikan utama orang ramai dan pelancong menaiki pesawat AirAsia.

"Kadangkala AirAsia mengadakan promosi istimewa dan harga tiket itu mungkin boleh dibeli dengan lebih murah," katanya.

Sementara itu, Pengurus Malaysia Airports, Md Zulkifli Farid Zakaria berkata perkhidmatan penerbangan AirAsia dari Kuala Lumpur ke Kuantan secara langsung merancakkan kemasukan pelancong ke Pahang.

"Setiap hari lapangan terbang ini menerima ketibaan antara 600 ke 700 penumpang dan ia boleh meningkat kepada 1,000 orang pada waktu puncak.

"Saya percaya perkhidmatan AirAsia ini mampu melonjakkan bilangan ketibaan penumpang terutama dalam kalangan pelancong yang mahu bercuti ke sini," katanya.

Seorang penumpang, Helmi Abdul Jamil, 40, berkata ia merupakan satu pengalaman yang selesa dan lebih cepat apabila datang ke Kuantan dengan menaiki pesawat AirAsia berbanding memandu kenderaan sendiri.

"Selepas ini saya akan memilih AirAsia lagi kerana segalanya mudah dan harga tiket pula murah," katanya.

Sumber: Bernama | 28 Oktober 2018

Works to upgrade Sultan Ismail Petra Airport to begin in 2020

Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar

TUMPAT: The upgrading of Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) in the Pengkalan Chepa in Kota Bharu is expected to start in 2020, involving an allocation of RM500 million.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said the project which will be implemented at the existing site includes the construction of a two-storey building for departure and arrival terminals which complies with international aviation regulations, and expected to be completed within three years.

He said the upgrading of the LTSIP was to accommodate the increasing number of passengers each year, as well as providing a safer and more comfortable environment.

"The new LTSIP will be able to accommodate about four million passengers a year, compared to two million a year currently," he said after the groundbreaking ceremony for the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Tumpat Railway Station and Depot here today, which was also attended by KTMB Procurement Manager Mohd Hider Yusoff.

The new RM23.7 million KTMB Tumpat station and depot is expected to be completed by 2020.

Sumber: Bernama | 27 September 2018

Kerja naik taraf Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra dijangka bermula 2020

TUMPAT: Kerja menaik taraf Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Pengkalan Chepa di Kota Bharu dijangka bermula tahun hadapan melibatkan peruntukan RM500 juta.

Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar berkata projek itu akan dilaksanakan di tapak sedia ada, yang merangkumi pembinaan bangunan dua tingkat untuk terminal berlepas dan ketibaan yang mematuhi peraturan penerbangan antarabangsa, dan dijangka siap tiga tahun lagi.

Beliau berkata projek menaik taraf LTSIP itu bagi menampung kapasiti penumpang yang semakin bertambah setiap tahun selain menyediakan suasana yang lebih selamat dan selesa.

"LTSIP baharu nanti akan mampu menampung kapasiti kira-kira empat juta penumpang setahun berbanding dua juta setahun ketika ini," katanya selepas majlis Pecah Tanah Pembinaan Stesen dan Depoh Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Tumpat di sini, hari ini, yang turut dihadiri Pengurus Perolehan KTMB Mohd Hider Yusoff.

Sementara itu, stesen dan depoh baharu KTMB Tumpat yang bernilai RM23.7 juta itu dalam proses pembinaan dan dijangka siap pada 2020, sebagai persiapan bagi penggunaan tren Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) akhir tahun ini menggantikan gerabak lama yang masih digunakan di laluan kereta api Pantai Timur.

Kamarudin juga berkata pelaksanaan kedua-dua projek itu dilihat sebagai pengiktirafan Kerajaan Persekutuan kepada negeri Kelantan bagi memastikan rakyat dapat menikmati kemudahan infrastruktur yang lebih baik.

Sumber: Bernama | 27 September 2018

Projek naik taraf LTSIP bermula 2020

Kamarudin Jaffar melakukan gimik perasmian Majlis Pecah Tanah Menaik Taraf Stesen dan Bangunan Depoh di stesen Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Tumpat, hari ini.

TUMPAT: Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan akan meneruskan projek pembesaran dan menaik taraf Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP) Pengkalan Chepa di sini yang melibatkan peruntukan sebanyak RM500 juta.

Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar berkata, projek yang dijangka bermula pada 2020 itu akan mengambil masa selama tiga tahun untuk disiapkan.

Beliau berkata, perkara itu sekali gus menunjukkan komitmen serta pengiktirafan Kerajaan Persekutuan terhadap pembangunan infrastruktur di negeri ini.

“Proses tender akan bermula tidak lama lagi kerana pembinaan dan pembesaran LTSIP dijangka siap pada 2023 yang mampu menampung seramai empat juta penumpang dalam masa setahun.

“Ini kerana, jumlah penumpang dijangka meningkat dengan jumlah yang pesat kerana tahun ini sahaja dianggarkan lebih dua juta penumpang menggunakan kemudahan lapangan terbang tersebut,” katanya di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian dalam sidang akhbar selepas Majlis Pecah Tanah Menaik Taraf Stesen dan Bangunan Depoh di stesen Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Tumpat, di sini hari ini.

Yang turut hadir ialah Pengurus Besar Perolehan KTMB, Mohd. Hider Yusoff dan Pengurus Besar Pengurusan Projek KTMB, Ismail Said.

Dalam pada itu, Kamaruddin berkata, kerajaan juga akan meneruskan projek menaik taraf stesen dan depoh KTMB serta pembinaan 13 set tren Diesel Multiple Units (DMU) melibatkan kos sebanyak RM403.8 juta.

“Projek ini termasuklah menaik taraf bangunan di stesen KTMB Tumpat seperti pembinaan kaunter tiket, aras platform sedia ada, pembinaan jejantas dan depoh penyelenggaraan DMU.

“Pembinaan tren DMU baharu pula amat penting bagi menampung kapasiti penumpang sedia ada seramai 1,500 orang setiap hari selain kadar tambang yang rendah menjadi pilihan pengguna menggunakan perkhidmatan KTMB,” jelasnya.

Sumber: Utusan Online | 27 September 2018

Projek pembesaran LTSIP bermula tahun 2020

Kamarudin mengendalikan jengkaut sebagai gimik pecah tanah pembinaan depoh di Stesen Kereta Api Tumpat.

TUMPAT: Projek pembesaran Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Pengkalan Chepa yang tertangguh sebelum ini akan bermula pada 2020.

Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar berkata, projek itu dijangka siap dalam tempoh tiga tahun dengan peruntukan diluluskan sebanyak RM500 juta.

“Semua maklum LTSIP sangat sesak, tahun ini sahaja jumlah penumpang melebihi 2 juta. Kita bantu rakyat Kelantan agar dapat kemudahan pengangkutan sama ada perkhidmatan penerbangan, rel (kereta api) mahu pun jalan raya.

“Ini pengiktirafan kerajaan kepada negeri ini, pembangunan kemudahan infrastruktur di Kelantan diambil berat,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas Majlis Pecah Tanah Pembinaan Depoh dan Naik Taraf Bangunan Stesen Kereta Api Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Tumpat, di bandar Tumpat, hari ini.

Kamarudin berkata, pembesaran LTSIP tidak melibatkan pengambilan tanah penduduk walaupun beberapa penambahbaikan dilakukan.

“Pembesaran LTSIP ini mampu menampung 4 juta penumpang setahun. Bangunan terminal nanti mempunyai dua tingkat untuk balai ketibaan dan perlepasan penumpang yang tentunya memberi keselesaan,” katanya.

Sebelum itu, Kamarudin melakukan gimik perasmian pecah tanah pembinaan depoh penyelenggaraan Kereta Api Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) dan projek naik taraf bangunan Stesen Kereta Api Tumpat bernilai hampir RM24 juta.

Projek pembesaran LTSIP yang sepatutnya bermula Julai lalu adalah projek impak tinggi Kelantan di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Ke-11 (RMK11) dengan kos RM483 juta yang diumumkan bekas Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, menerusi pembentangan Bajet 2018.

Sumber: Sinar Harian | 27 September 2018

RM500 juta untuk pembesaran Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra

Jumlah penumpang di LTSIP yang kini berjumlah dua juta orang setahun dijangka meningkat kepada empat juta orang dalam tempoh beberapa tahun lagi.

TUMPAT: Projek pembesaran Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu dijangka bermula pada tahun 2020 dengan melibatkan kos lebih RM500 juta.

Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar berkata, Kerajaan Persekutuan telah meluluskan peruntukan untuk projek pembesaran LTSIP dan proses pengeluaran tendernya akan dibuat tidak lama lagi.

"Pada masa ini penumpang yang menggunakan LTSIP amat padat dengan jumlah penumpang tahun ini dijangka melebihi dua juta orang dan jumlah tersebut dijangka akan meningkat sehingga empat juta orang beberapa tahun akan datang," katanya selepas majlis pecah tanah pembinaan depoh dan stesen kereta api KTMB Tumpat di sini, hari ini.

Katanya lagi, projek pembesaran dijangka siap dalam tempoh tiga tahun.

Kompleks baru LTSIP itu akan dibina bertingkat bagi mengasingkan ruang pelepasan dan ketibaan dan pada masa sama bagi menampung penambahan penumpang.

“Kerajaan Persekutuan bagi pengiktirafan kepada negeri Kelantan dan mengambil kira kepentingan pembangunan infrastruktur serta kemudahan di negeri ini,” tambahnya.

LTSIP antara lapangan terbang sibuk di negara ini dengan lebih 45 penerbangan keluar masuk setiap hari.

Sementara itu, mengenai depoh baharu KTMB katanya, ia bertujuan untuk menerima gerabak dan kepala baharu jenis DMU yang dijangka sampai penghujung tahun ini.

Setakat ini katanya, tambang yang dikenakan kepada pengguna kereta api Tumpat - Kuala Lumpur tidak akan dinaikkan walapun KTMB menukar gerabak jenis DMU untuk laluan berkenaan pada masa akan datang.

Sumber: Astro Awani | 27 September 2018

Malindo Air CEO eyes first profit within 3 years

KUALA LUMPUR: The airline business in Malaysia has predominantly been shared among Malaysia Airlines Bhd, AirAsia Group Bhd and Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd (Malindo Air).

While the first two have made some splashy news and big announcements, Malindo Air has mostly stayed below the radar, quietly building its network — earlier out of KLIA 2, and three years later at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Main Terminal (KLIA 1). The full-service airline has also expanded into the turboprop segment, which it operates out of the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Selangor.

From a two-destination operation (Kuala Lumpur - Kuching and Kuala Lumpur - Kota Kinabalu) five years back, Malindo Air now has a network of 57 destinations across 16 countries.

However, Malindo Air has yet to turn in a profit. It lost RM499.28 million in the financial year ended Dec 31, 2017 (FY17), from just RM273,152 in net loss in FY16. The airline has now accumulated total losses of RM1.06 billion compared with RM560,522 in FY16.

But the airline’s 39-year-old chief executive officer vows to bring the airline to profitability in the next three years.

Chandran Rama Muthy, who has held the reins at Malindo Air since its inception in 2013, hopes to achieve this by riding on industry growth, continuous cost discipline and synergies with the airline’s Indonesian shareholder Lion Group.

While Chandran conceded that higher jet fuel prices and the ringgit’s weakness remain a challenge for the sector, he also expects rising crude oil prices to bring better economic growth, which would boost air travel.

“Looking from another perspective, higher oil prices are good for the country’s income. As such, we hope there will be more economic activities, people will have more disposable income, which in turn will boost travel,” he said in an interview with The Edge Financial Daily last week.

He pointed out that the airline’s fuel costs had risen about 10% this year as fuel makes up 35% to 40% of its total operating cost. Bloomberg data showed that year to date (YTD), the Singapore jet kerosene spot price had risen by 14.24% to US$88.46 (RM365.34) per barrel.

The airline is also hit by a weaker local currency, as while it earns in ringgit, 67% to 70% of its costs like fuel, airplane leases, insurance and spare parts are billed in US dollars. YTD, the ringgit had weakened by 2.76% to close at 4.1305 last Friday against the US dollar.

“It (2018) is a challenging year, but we do not depend on a single market. Our presence in multiple countries helps [to ease the impact of currency fluctuations]. The industry is very dynamic. Whenever we see there is an opportunity to maximise our revenue, we will go for it,” said Chandran.

The airline is still in ‘investment mode’

There is no stopping Malindo Air as it looks to continue expanding its business. The airline is looking to expand its operations to destinations in India, Pakistan, China and Australia.

Chandran said the airline is still in “investment mode”, noting that its cash flow had also seen “good” improvement.

A check on the Companies Commission of Malaysia’s data showed that Malindo Air’s current assets had increased to RM319.78 million as at FY17, from just RM319,587 in FY16.

Revenue also surged to RM2.09 billion from RM1.38 million during the same period.

Chandran said that this year, Malindo Air is targeting to carry seven million passengers, which is equivalent to a 10% growth from the airline’s passenger volume of over six million in 2017.

“Since 2013, we have flown about 23 million passengers,” he added.

Initially formed as a joint venture between Malaysia’s National Aerospace and Defence Industries (Nadi) and Lion Group of Indonesia, Chandran now holds a 51% stake in Malindo Air after Nadi’s exit last year.

However, he declined to reveal the reason for Nadi’s exit.

Nevertheless, the affiliation with the Indonesian airline group has allowed Malindo Air to have better cost management due to the synergies between the two parties.

“We are leveraging on Lion Group’s facilities when it comes to aircraft financing, procurement of spare parts, its maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities in Batam, as well as its simulator training centre in Jakarta. So cost-wise, we are very disciplined; we save wherever we can as a group,” said Chandran.

Malindo Air also hopes to tap into Lion Air’s 60 million passengers a year. “If we can tap into just 1% of their market, we are very happy,” he said.

The airline’s fleet of aircraft comprises 29 Boeing 737s and 13 ATR 72s.

“Next year, we are looking to add another six Boeing 737 MAX 8s and two more ATRs through an operating lease with Lion Group. Our capacity expansion is around 10% to 15% every year,” said Chandran.

Malindo Air currently employs about 4,500 people, 88% of whom are under 40 years old.

Meanwhile, passengers of Malindo Air may begin to notice a new look and brand gradually sweeping the airline as it moves forward with a rebranding effort that Chandran said began two years ago.

Come March next year, Malindo Air will be renamed Batik Air Malaysia in a move to better integrate its flights with Lion Group’s airlines comprising Lion Air, Wings Air and Batik Air Indonesia.

“With the name Batik Air Malaysia, it will give passengers an impression that we are under one brand. They will be more comfortable when they connect between two or more flights under Batik Air. We see prospects in connecting more flights out of Indonesia rather than Singapore’s Changi Airport [going forward],” he said.

Chandran noted that Malindo Air, which had positioned itself as a hybrid airline when it first entered the Malaysian market, no longer does so to avoid brand confusion.

“We think it is better to focus on growing our business rather than spend money to educate people on what is a hybrid airline. We offer frills like baggage allowances and in-flight entertainment, so we fall under the category of a full-service airline,” he said.

He is unfazed by competition from its more-established counterparts including Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates in the premium market, saying there are many subsegments and that the market is big enough for everybody.

Source: The Edge Financial Daily | 24 September 2018

MAHB setuju turunkan kadar caj PSC di Lapangan Terbang Melaka

BANDAR RAYA MELAKA: Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) akan menurunkan caj perkhidmatan Penumpang (PSC) bagi syarikat-syarikat penerbangan di Lapangan Terbang Melaka (LTAM) bermula Oktober depan.

Ketua Menteri, Adly Zahari, berkata, perubahan kadar baharu itu merupakan insentif yang diperkenalkan MAHB kepada syarikat pengendali penerbangan selama lima tahun melibatkan penerbangan Asia Tenggara dan antarabangsa.

Menurutnya, penurunan itu membolehkan penumpang menikmati rebat RM50 bagi penerbangan bukan Asia dan RM20 bagi penerbangan Asia selain laluan domestik kekal RM11.

"Kita telah berunding dengan pengendali lapangan terbang MAHB yang bersetuju untuk memberi insentif itu yang mana sebelum ini caj perkhidmatan penumpang antarabangsa dari RM73 tapi diberikan rebat RM50, manakala dari RM35 diberikan rebat RM20 yang mana penumpang dikenakan caj baharu iaitu RM23 dan RM15 mengikut laluan.

"Ini adalah berita gembira selain itu LTAM turut menerima pengecualian caj pendaratan selama setahun," katanya.

Adly berkata demikian kepada pemberita ketika sidang media Exco Di Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh, di sini, tadi.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Adly berkata kerajaan negeri sedang merancang pembinaan hospital universiti yang akan menjadi pemacu peningkatan fasiliti dan kemudahan awam di negeri ini.

"Malah cadangan pembangunan itu dijangka dapat mengurangkan kesesakan di hospital awam sebanyak 20 peratus," katanya.

Sumber: Sinar Harian | 20 September 2018

Malindo Air's Surat Thani - Kota Bharu direct flight to boost tourist arrivals to Kelantan

KOTA BHARU: The new Malindo Air’s direct flight from Surat Thani International Airport, Thailand, to Kota Bharu is expected to bring in more tourists to Kelantan.

State Culture, Tourism and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Md Anizam Ab Rahman said the direct flight would also give the opportunity to the state government to promote the state to foreign tourists.

“By using the flight, foreign tourists departing from Thailand will be offered a holiday package in Kelantan.

“This will be our chance to promote the state and increase the number of tourist arrivals to Kelantan to 5.23 million a year,” he told reporters after welcoming the arrival of over 50 passengers on Malindo Air’s first direct flight from Surat Thani Airport at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) here today.

Also present LTSIP manager Abdul Halim Othman.

The flight is available twice weekly, namely on Monday and Tuesday.

Elaborating, Md Anizam said for the promotion, the state government would provide electrical trishaws that would take the tourists around the capital to get know the state better.

“They will be taken for a ride around Kota Bharu and learn a thing or two about our culture and heritage, and enjoy the natural beauty of the state and its traditional dishes,” he added.

Source: Bernama | 17 September 2018

Kelantan bukan sekadar 'transit'

Sebahagian pelancong yang tiba dalam penerbangan sulung Malindo Air dari Surat Thani ke Kota Bharu di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP) di Kota Bharu, hari ini.

KOTA BHARU: Penerbangan terus menerus dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Surat Thani, Thailand ke Kota Bharu diharap mampu melonjakkan nama Kelantan dalam kalangan pelancong luar negara.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perpaduan Masyarakat, Kebudayaan, Warisan dan Pelancongan negeri, Datuk Md Anizam Ab Rahman berkata, penerbangan antarabangsa itu yang disediakan oleh Malindo Air membolehkan pelancong yang bercuti di Thailand menyambung percutian mereka di sini.

Beliau berkata, pelancong yang datang ke negeri ini bukan semata-mata kerana ia lokasi transit atau persinggahan kerana mereka sebenarnya berpeluang menikmati keunikan budaya, makanan dan keindahan alam sekitar.

"Kita yakin Kelantan sebenarnya bukan lagi sekadar transit untuk pelancong luar kerana mempunyai pelbagai tarikan tersendiri terutama keramahan penduduk.

"Ada yang tinggal seminggu malah ada yang tinggal tiga bulan, contohnya semasa Pesta Wau Antarabangsa di Geting, Tumpat baru-baru ini pelancong datang dari 18 buah negara dan telah meluangkan masa yang lama," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika menyambut ketibaan pelancong menerusi penerbangan sulung Malindo Air dari Surat Thani ke Kota Bharu di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), di sini hari ini.

Yang turut hadir, Pengurus Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB) LTSIP, Abdul Halim Othman dan Pengurus Stesen Malindo Air Kota Bharu, Mohd Nazri Abdullah.

Pesawat ATR 72-600 yang membawa seramai 50 pelancong antarabangsa dari pelbagai negara termasuk Rusia, Argentina, Perancis dan United Kingdom (UK) mendarat kira-kira pukul 2.40 petang tadi.

Malindo Air menyediakan penerbangan pergi balik dari Surat Thani ke Kota Bharu dan Kota Bharu ke Surat Thani dua hari seminggu iaitu pada Isnin dan Selasa.

Sementara itu, Abdul Halim berkata, penerbangan dari Surat Thani itu adalah penerbangan antarabangsa tunggal setakat ini yang diterima di LTSIP selepas tamatnya operasi penerbangan dari Singapura beberapa tahun lalu.

"LTSIP menguruskan kira-kira 40 penerbangan yang tiba dan berlepas setiap hari dengan hampir 2,000 penumpang pada hari biasa dan jumlah ini meningkat kepada hampir 60 penerbangan dan 3,000 penumpang pada waktu puncak, kira-kira 10 peratus penumpang adalah pelancong luar negara" katanya.

Sumber: Utusan Online | 17 September 2018

Malindo Air lancar penerbangan sulung Surat Thani - Kota Bharu

KOTA BHARU: Syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air mengadakan laluan baharu terus dari Kota Bharu ke Surat Thani, Thailand dua kali seminggu bermula hari ini.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perpaduan Masyarakat, Kebudayaan, Warisan dan Pelancongan, Mejar (B) Dato' Md Anizam Ab Rahman penerbangan antarabangsa itu diadakan pada hari Isnin dan Selasa.

“Semoga laluan baharu tersebut akan terus merancakkan sektor pelancongan antara Kelantan dan Thailand,” katanya selepas menyambut ketibaan pelancong dari Surat Thani di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra hari ini.

Seramai 50 pelancong kebanyakannya warga negara Eropah serta Amerika Latin menyertai penerbangan sulung ATR 72 Malindo Air antara kedua-dua laluan.

Hadir sama menyambut ketibaan pelancong, Pengurus Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd Kelantan, Abdul Halim Othman; Pengurus Stesyen Malindo Air, Mohd Nazri Abdullah dan Ketua Penolong Setiausaha Pusat Penerangan Pelancongan Negeri, Mohd Sabilly Mohd Ramli. 

Sumber: Harakah Daily | 17 September 2018

Malindo Air lancar penerbangan terus dari Surat Thani, Thailand ke Kota Bharu

KOTA BHARU: Penerbangan terus yang dilancarkan syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Surat Thani, Thailand ke Kota Bharu bakal menarik lebih ramai pelancong ke Kelantan.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kebudayaan Pelancongan dan Warisan Negeri Kelantan Datuk Md Anizam Ab Rahman berkata penerbangan antarabangsa terbaharu itu akan memberi ruang kepada pihaknya untuk mempromosikan Kelantan kepada pelancong asing.

"Melalui penerbangan ini, pelancong asing dari pelbagai negara yang melancong ke Thailand diberi peluang menikmati percutian di Kelantan.

Kita jangka ini akan memberi peluang untuk kita mempromosikan negeri ini sekali gus meningkatkan jumlah kedatangan pelancong asing ke Kelantan bagi mencapai sasaran keseluruhan 5.23 juta pelancong domestik dan antarabangsa setahun," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menyambut ketibaan lebih 50 pelancong antarabangsa di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP) di sini hari ini menerusi penerbangan sulung Malindo Air dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Surat Thani.

Turut hadir Pengurus Besar Malaysia Airport Sdn Bhd (MASB), Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra di sini, Abdul Halim Othman.

Melalui kerjasama itu, Malindo Air akan mengadakan penerbangan dua kali seminggu bagi laluan berkenaan iaitu pada setiap Isnin dan Selasa.

Md Anizam berkata pihaknya akan menyediakan kemudahan antaranya beca elektrik secara percuma bagi memberi peluang kepada pelancong mengenali Kelantan dengan lebih dekat.

"Pelancong akan dibawa mengelilingi bandar Kota Bharu untuk mengenali budaya dan warisan Kelantan, keindahan alam semula jadi serta menikmati makanan," katanya.

Sementara itu, Abdul Halim berkata LTSIP menerima kira-kira 40 penerbangan sehari dengan hampir 2,000 penumpang pada hari biasa.

Katanya, jumlah itu meningkat kepada hampir 60 penerbangan pada waktu puncak dengan 3,000 penumpang dan 10 peratus daripadanya adalah pelancong luar negara.

Sumber: Bernama | 17 September 2018

Tanpa sebarang promosi, Malindo Air lancarkan penerbangan terus ke Surat Thani dari Kota Bharu hari ini

KOTA BHARU: Syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air hari ini melancarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan sulung dari Kota Bharu (KBR) ke Surat Thani (URT) dengan kekerapan dua kali seminggu, iaitu setiap hari Isnin dan Selasa. 

Laluan penerbangan sulung Kota Bharu - Surat Thani pada 17 September 2018. Sumber: Flightradar24

Penerbangan sulung OD534 dari Kota Bharu ke Surat Thani telah berlepas dari Kota Bharu pada jam 11:03 dan telah tiba di Surat Thani pada jam 11:25 (waktu Thailand). Penerbangan sulung ini  mengambil masa kira-kira 1 jam 23 minit sahaja. 

Jadual Penerbangan

Penerbangan OD534 dari Kota Bharu ke Surat Thani dijadualkan berlepas dari Kota Bharu pada jam 10:40 dan dijadualkan tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Surat Thani (URT) pada jam 11:20 (waktu Thailand), manakala penerbangan OD535 dari Surat Thani ke Kota Bharu dijadualkan berlepas pada jam 11:45 (waktu Thailand) dan dijadualkan tiba di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra Kota Bharu (LTSIP) pada jam 14:25. 

Cadangan Jadual Penerbangan

Syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air diharap dapat menjadualkan semula laluan ini daripada Isnin dan Selasa kepada Isnin dan Jumaat. Hal ini kerana jika penerbangan ditawarkan pada hari Isnin dan Selasa, pelancong dari Kota Bharu ke Surat Thani yang berlepas pada hari Isnin hanya berkesempatan untuk bercuti di Surat Thani untuk satu malam sahaja dengan mengambil penerbangan pulang pada keesokan harinya dengan andaian bahawa mereka tidak mahu berada di sana selama seminggu. 

Jika perkhidmatan bagi laluan ini dijadualkan semula kepada setiap hari Isnin dan Jumaat, pelancong dari Kota Bharu yang berlepas ke Surat Thani pada hari Jumaat berkesempatan berada di Surat Thani atau Koh Samui selama tiga malam sebelum mengambil penerbangan pulang pada hari Isnin dan sebaliknya. 

Tiada Sebarang Promosi 

Untuk laluan baharu ini paling dikesalkan adalah kerana Malindo Air didapati tidak membuat sebarang promosi dan publisiti di laman sesawang dan media sosial rasminya berbanding laluan-laluan baharu lain seperti Kuala Lumpur - Labuan (mulai 2 Ogos 2018), Kota Kinabalu - Singapura (10 Ogos 2018), Subang - Silangit (17 Ogos 2018), Kuala Lumpur - Kolkata (22 Oktober 2018) dan Kota Kinabalu - Kuching (28 Oktober 2018). 

Pengurusan Malindo Air sama ada di ibu pejabat di Petaling Jaya, Selangor mahupun pengurus stesen di Kota Bharu, Kelantan sepatutnya menitikberatkan aspek promosi dan pemasaran dalam memastikan semua laluan baharu yang akan dan baru diperkenalkan dapat terus kekal beroperasi. 

Tanpa sebarang promosi dan pemasaran, didapati ramai rakyat Kelantan sendiri yang tidak mengetahui akan kewujudkan laluan antarabangsa ini.

Pengurusan Malindo Air diharap dapat melakukan sesuatu untuk mempromosikan laluan ini termasuk menjadualkan semula penerbangan daripada Isnin dan Selasa kepada Isnin dan Jumaat untuk memudahkan perancangan percutian warga Kelantan dan Pantai Timur ke Surat Thani dan Koh Samui dan sebaliknya. 

Nota kaki: Surat Thani merupakan salah satu pintu masuk utama pelancong untuk ke Pulau Koh Samui di Teluk Thailand. 

Langkawi International Airport reopens to handle 4m passengers

Langkawi International Airport (LIA) can now handle four million passengers a year following the completion of its expansion by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd. Picture courtesy of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.

KUALA LUMPUR: Langkawi International Airport (LIA) can now handle four million passengers a year following the completion of its expansion by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.

MAHB on Saturday announced the re-opening of LIA after a year-long airport expansion project which started in October last year.

MAHB acting group chief executive officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin said the LIA’s expansion project was completed right on schedule and allowed its operations to increase the airport capacity from 1.5 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 4.0 mppa.

“LIA will be better positioned to support Langkawi’s growth as a popular tourist destination, as well as act as a larger catalyst to its economic development. On a larger picture, it will also strengthen the country’s position as a preferred global hub,” he said in a statement.

Raja Azmi added that the airport expansion was in line with the airport operator’s aim to enhance its airport experience for users and elevate service levels at all its airports.

MAHB said the LIA expansion had increased the total gross floor area (GFA) of the terminal building from 15,000 sqm to 23,000 sqm, resulting in a comfort level of 22 sqm per passenger.

It said terminal facilities had also been upgraded to reduce congestion and improve operational efficiencies. For example, the airport car park was now larger with a total of 600 bays compared to 400 previously.

“In 2017, LIA registered 2.7 million passenger traffic movements with a 14.6 per cent increase in international passengers.

“As at year to date June 2018, international passenger traffic movements increased by 23.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2017.

“We are confident that this expansion will further facilitate LIA’s growth. We are already seeing more interest from foreign airlines to operate from here,” Raja Azmi said.

Currently, there are six airlines operating from LIA to four domestic destinations and five international destinations with combined weekly frequencies of 238

The number of counters at passenger touchpoints have also increased from 24 to 30 check-in counters and from 14 to 18 immigration counters.

LIA is also now equipped with In-Line Hold Baggage Handling System (ILHBS) – an automated system with three levels of security screening, allowing for more efficient check-in process.

Other upgrades included increasing the number of boarding gates to eight from five previously, as well as adding and refurbishing existing washroom facilities.

Source: New Straits Times | 2 September 2018

New look for Langkawi International Airport, better image for the island

LANGKAWI: The completion of the Langkawi International Airport terminal expansion project has added another piece to the puzzle as the island prepares to host this year’s Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart.

Langkawi Development Authority's (LADA) chief executive officer Datuk Azizan Noordin today said the opening of the new terminal last Saturday was timely, as the island would be hosting the international travel trade exhibition from Sept 12 to 14.

“By hosting this event, we are carving another milestone in our effort to make Langkawi an international convention destination,” he told Bernama here, adding that the airport’s new look would provide a better first impression to tourists.

He said apart from the new airport, LADA, with the cooperation of several other government agencies, the private sector and tourism associations here had also taken steps to enhance the landscape around the island in preparation for the event.

“We have been making the necessary preparations for the event and to date, 120 delegates from 25 countries would be coming as (tour package) sellers, 275 from 66 countries as purchasers, while 20 foreign media organisations have also confirmed their participation,” he added.

Operation at the expanded terminal commenced last Saturday and the airport’s operator, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) was confident it will further facilitate passenger growth.

MAHB acting group chief executive officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin in a statement said the expansion project, which began in October 2017, has increased the airport’s capacity from 1.5 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 4 mppa.

“The expansion has increased the total gross floor area of LGK’s terminal building from 15,000 sqm to 23,000 sqm, and its facilities have also been upgraded to reduce congestion and improve operational efficiencies,” he said.

According to him, six airlines were currently operating from the airport with a combined weekly frequency of 238 flights, and several more foreign airlines had expressed their interest to operate here.

“It (the airport) would be in a better position to support Langkawi’s growth as a popular tourist destination, acting as a catalyst for its economic development, while helping to strengthen the country’s position as a preferred global hub,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kuah State Assemblyman, Mohd Firdaus Ahmad said the new airport terminal was another value-adding feature which would raise Langkawi’s image as an international tourism destination.

He said, however, the improvement in facilities alone would not be sufficient, as it would have to be accompanied with better services.

“Apart from the expansion of the airport terminal recently, the expansion of the Kuah Jetty Point was also completed last year, and this will put Langkawi in a better position to bring in more tourists,” he said.

Emphasising the fact that better services should go along with the improvement in infrastructure, he said the airport and jetty point were important gateways which would give tourists their first impressions about the island.

“The services (at the airport and jetty) will be the “wow” factor that will build the tourists first impression and if the services are bad… that will probably be the only occasion they come here,” he said.

Langkawi Business Association deputy president, Datuk Alexander Isaac, on the other hand, hailed the contractor of the airport expansion project for completing the project within the stipulated time, and ahead of the 2018 PATA Travel Mart.

He said the public should not expect everything to be in place immediately after the completion, and instead give some time to the airport authority to settle down and adjust to the new operating environment.

“Of course it will be ready to handle more travellers and the real challenge would come during the peak months, where the authorities would have to be more prepared,” he said.

In anticipation of a larger number of passengers, he said the airport authority would need to re-look at its crowd handling system and to weed out touting activities at the airport which would create a bad impression among tourists.

“Definitely it (the project) has made the airport even more beautiful, and I hope the airport authority and other parties involved will continue with their great job of maintaining good service,” he added.

Source: Bernama | 3 September 2018

Perluasan LTAL akan lonjakkan pertumbuhan penumpang Langkawi - MAHB

Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi (LTAL), Pulau Langkawi, Kedah.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) yakin perluasan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi (LTAL) akan melancarkan lagi pertumbuhan penumpangnya.

Pemangku Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan, Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin berkata MAHB telah menerima lebih banyak minat daripada syarikat penerbangan asing untuk beroperasi di LTAL.

“Pada 2017, LTAL mencatatkan 2.7 juta pergerakan trafik penumpang dengan peningkatan sebanyak 14.6 peratus bagi penumpang antarabangsa.

“Bagi tahun ini setakat Jun, pergerakan trafik penumpang antarabangsa meningkat sebanyak 23.9 peratus dari tempoh yang sama 2017,” katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Peluasan LTAL telah selesai dan lapangan terbang itu dibuka untuk operasi mulai hari ini pada 6 pagi tadi.

Projek perluasan yang bermula pada Oktober 2017 telah meningkatkan kapasiti lapangan terbang itu daripada 1.5 juta penumpang setahun kepada 4.0 juta penumpang setahun.

Raja Azmi berkata, pada masa ini, terdapat enam syarikat penerbangan beroperasi dari LTAL ke empat destinasi domestik dan lima destinasi antarabangsa dengan kekerapan mingguan terkumpul sebanyak 238 penerbangan.

Beliau berkata, LTAL akan berkedudukan lebih baik untuk menyokong pertumbuhan Langkawi sebagai destinasi pelancongan popular serta berperanan menjadi pemangkin lebih besar kepada pembangunan ekonominya.

“Secara keseluruhan, ia juga akan memperkukuh kedudukan Malaysia sebagai hab global pilihan,” katanya.

Projek perluasan itu meningkatkan luas lantai kasar keseluruhan bangunan terminal daripada 15,000 meter persegi kepada 23,000 meter persegi sekali gus menjadikan tahap keselesaan bagi setiap penumpang adalah 22 meter persegi.

Di samping itu, kemudahan terminal juga telah ditambah baik untuk mengurangkan kesesakan selain mempertingkat kecekapan operasi.

Sumber: Bernama | 1 September 2018

Langkawi International Airport expansion will boost passenger growth - MAHB

Langkawi International Airport, Langkawi Island, Kedah. 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is confident that the expansion of the Langkawi International Airport (LIA) will further facilitate its passenger growth.

Acting Group Chief Executive Officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin said several foreign airlines had expressed their interest to operate from the airport.

“In 2017, LIA registered 2.7 million passenger traffic movements, with a 14.6 per cent increase in international passengers.

“From January to June 2018, international passenger traffic movement increased by 23.9 per cent compared with the same period in 2017,” he said in a statement today.

The year-long expansion project, which began in October 2017, has increased the airport’s capacity from 1.5 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 4.0 mppa.

Raja Azmi said six airlines were currently operating from LIA, flying to four domestic destinations and five international destinations, with a combined weekly frequency of 238 flights.

He added that LIA would be in a better position to support Langkawi’s growth as a popular tourist destination, and act as a catalyst for its economic development. 

“It will also help to strengthen the country’s position as a preferred global hub,” he said.

The expansion has increased the total gross floor area of LIA’s terminal building from 15,000 sqm to 23,000 sqm, and its facilities have also been upgraded to reduce congestion and improve operational efficiencies.

Source: Bernama | 1 September 2018

Malaysia Airlines records stable Q2 performance

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Bhd managed to record "steady year-on-year (y-o-y) performance” in the second quarter of 2018, with a marginal yield improvement of 0.3 per cent.

In the face of increased competitor capacity, coupled with weak demand conditions due to Ramadan, revenue per available seat kilometre (RASK) also remained steady with a growth of 2.0 per cent y-o-y, the national carrier said in a statement today.

It did not disclose revenue and profit numbers, but said the first half of 2018 was “extremely challenging" as the airline was hit by many factors, including escalating fuel prices (up by over 37 per cent y-o-y), industry-wide overcapacity resulting in demand and yield pressures, and pilot shortages.

“Despite this, the airline managed to hold its position with stable performance posted for the quarter,” it added.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd, its sole shareholder, was reported as saying earlier this year that it expected Malaysia Airlines to show a profit this year.

Malaysia Airlines Group (MAG) Chief Executive Officer Izham Ismail said the carrier had been undertaking its biggest ever transformation over the past three years, cutting comparable unit costs by 5.0 per cent during the period.

“The airline had seen good traction for the last three quarters after a weak 2017 with yield and RASK showing positive improvements.

“However, we are also facing pressure from escalating fuel prices, foreign exchange (forex) volatility and overcapacity in the domestic market,” he said in the statement. 

He added that overcapacity has also led to a worldwide pilot shortage, further exacerbating the situation and hampering its growth.

Despite this, he said, relatively steady results were seen in the quarter from pre-emptive initiatives taken, including better capacity management as well as leveraging on the flexibility of our fleet type to navigate operational constraints.

“We remain committed to drive through our planned initiatives for the remainder of this year whilst putting in place proactive and defensive strategies to deliver profitable performance in 2019.

“We will continue to drive yield by implementing effective pricing strategies and delivering better value products to our passengers,” he said.

Moving forward, Izham said the group maintained its cautious outlook for fiscal year 2018 with potential volatility on the horizon from forex and escalating fuel prices.

“While the global economic situation remains volatile, we remain cautiously optimistic about the demand environment, both domestically and in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The group will continue to be prudent in controlling capacity and has already rationalised domestic route frequencies, allocating the group’s aircraft where we see the best potential returns,” he said.

According to Izham, the airline’s focus remains on improving yield through better pricing strategies, especially on premium segments of business class and corporate sale.

To address external pressures and anticipated operational constraints, Malaysia Airlines proactively conducts a capacity management exercise, reducing capacity and frequencies on non-profitable routes.

On pilot shortage, it said proactive steps were being taken to address this issue as quickly as possible, which included merging and upgrading flights to be operated by its wide-body aircraft to help cover gaps caused by the shortage of B737 pilots.

The airline has also put in place an extensive pilot training programme, implemented in August 2017, alongside recruitment drives.

Last month Malaysia Airlines received its sixth and final A350-900 aircraft, which will be deployed on the double daily London route.

The airline is maximising its assets by using certain aircraft types, such as the A350-900 and the A380-800, opportunistically during peak seasons to high traffic markets.

The quarter under review also saw the arrival of three of the A330-200s, bringing the current total fleet to five.

The aircraft have enabled Malaysia Airlines to be more competitive in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific aviation market, allowing the airline to up-gauge from a narrow-body on high demand markets, significantly improving the customer experience whilst also generating better revenue.

The last A330-200 is expected to arrive next month.

Meanwhile, MAG recently signed an agreement with four umrah tour operators – KRS Travel Sdn Bhd, ATS Global Travel & Charter, Ecoriths Leisure Travel & Tour and Rayhar Travels Sdn Bhd – to provide air charter services for the umrah season from October 2018 to June 2019.

The agreement would see Malaysia Airlines transporting over 70,000 pilgrims not just from Malaysia but also from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia.

With a total of 149 flights, operated via Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A380-800 aircraft, the agreement represents the highest number of scheduled flights for the umrah season to date for Malaysia Airlines.

Source: Bernama | 30 August 2018

LCCT in Penang’s flight plan

GEORGE TOWN: If Penang gets a low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT), it will likely be to the south of the current passenger terminal and only about 1km from the proposed islands to be reclaimed off the southern coast of Penang island.

It has been the dream of AirAsia and the Penang Government to have the facility since 2007.

An inside source in AirAsia revealed that former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had given approval for AirAsia to build the LCCT on a 36ha piece of land at the coastal end of Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.

“But it met with resistance from the Transport Ministry then due to political reasons, and also because the plan was for the LCCT to be privately run, instead of by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

“AirAsia was planning to make high-volume, short-haul flights to China and India from there.

“Now that there are new levels of political cooperation between the state and federal governments, it will be interesting to see if the 11-year dream can come true,” the source said.

The project was highlighted at the state assembly yesterday when Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng, who is also Finance Minister, hailed the move to have a new LCCT for Penang while debating the motion of thanks to the opening speech by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.

Lim, speaking to reporters outside the august Hall later, said: “We are not talking about expanding the present terminal but a totally new one that will use the same runway.”

The former chief minister said Putrajaya would talk to Air­Asia and MAHB on the LCCT plan.

“While AirAsia is very much interested to help, we still need to work out the specifics of the plan,” Lim said.

He said a solution was needed be­­cause the present airport in Bayan Lepas only has the capacity to handle 6.5 million passengers a year but arrivals last year hit 7.1 million and the number was expected to increase to 7.8 million this year.

Former Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi recalled that the LCCT plan was proposed in 2007 and said if it had been done 10 years ago, Penang would have had a different future.

“Penang is well positioned to be a regional hub for international tra­vellers who fly low-cost.

“Tourists who arrive on full-­service airlines will have plenty of options to travel elsewhere on low-cost flights. So this makes Penang attractive as a prime point of visits for tourists,” he said.

On July 31, AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fer­nandes hinted that the low-cost airline giant was looking at plans to build a LCCT in Penang.

“A new terminal will help us increase our planes from five to 16 over the next five years. This will bring in about eight million more passengers per annum into Pe­­nang,” he said after a courtesy call on Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He added that the plans would feature both domestic and international routes.

The current Penang International Airport is the oldest in the country, having been built in 1935 when Pe­­nang was part of the Straits Settle­ment in South-East Asia ruled by the British.

It underwent a major upgrade in 1979 to accommodate Boeing 747s, then the largest planes in the world.

The terminal saw two significant facelifts in 2009 and 2013.

Source: The Star | 7 August 2018

PSC rate to differ according to airports - Mavcom

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) is looking into regulating a new passenger service charge (PSC) rate which will be different for each airport, said newly-appointed Executive Chairman Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi.

"We are reviewing the PSC (rate) and it will be based on the funding models of various airports because not all airports are profitable.

"It has already been equalised...the next stage is to differentiate by service level according to different airports," he told reporters today.

He said this after the signing of a master agreement between Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd and Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Bhd (SJPP) on guaranteeing loans for small and medium enterprises here.

Nungsari is also the Director and Principal Officer of SJPP, a company wholly-owned by the Minister of Finance Inc.

Previously, Transport Minister Anthony Loke had ordered Mavcom to decide on the new PSC rates by January 2019.

Nungsari said Mavcom would look into the operating agreements between Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and the owner.

"The airports are owned by the government, so in order for us to impose differential rates for airports, the government will have to take a stand in terms of how it wants to treat the existing airports and how it wants to fund expansion," he added.

The PSC, formerly known as airport tax, is currently standardised for all airports in the country whereby RM11 is charged for domestic destinations, RM35 for ASEAN destinations and RM73 for international destinations beyond ASEAN.

Commenting on the RM1 service charge per passenger, Nungsari said it will remain in force.

Source: Bernama | 2 August 2018

Malaysia Airlines resumes flights to Brisbane

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines today resumed its Kuala Lumpur-Brisbane-Kuala Lumpur service, with a send-off event at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Jointly organised by Tourism Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Airport Corporation, the event marked the reopening of the airline's operations into Queensland, whilst promoting Brisbane as a key destination for business and leisure travels.

The event was attended by Malaysia Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer, Arved von zur Muehlen, Tourism Malaysia's Deputy Director General of Production Division, Junus Suhud and Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd General Manager of Airline Marketing, Mohamed Sallauddin Hj Mat Sah.

"Australia is one of our biggest markets, including Brisbane, the country's third most populous city.

"We are excited to be returning to Brisbane to offer passengers better connectivity with our four times weekly direct flights into the city," Muehlen said in a statement today.

The Brisbane-bound flight MH135 departed KLIA at 10.30 am and is expected to arrive in Brisbane at 8.35 pm, the same day.

Meanwhile, the return flight (MH134) will depart Brisbane at 11.35 pm and will arrive in Kuala Lumpur the following day at 5.00 am.

The four times weekly service on every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday will be operated using the A330-300.

According to Tourism Australia Managing Director John O'Sullivan, Malaysia continues to be a significant contributor to Australia's visitor economy with around 400,000 Malaysians travelling to the country annually.

Source: Bernama | 6 June 2018

AirAsia increases flight frequencies for Aidilfitri

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd is adding 43 extra flights from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Kuching to meet demand for the Aidilfitri festival from June 8 to 25.

In a statement today, it said flights from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar would be increased to 38 from 31 times weekly one way; to Langkawi (65 from 61 times); to Kuala Terengganu (39 from 35 times); to Kota Bharu (63 from 56 times); and to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei (17 from 14 times).

"Whereas, flights from Johor Bahru to Tawau will increase to seven from four times weekly one way; to Kota Kinabalu (18 from 14 times); to Miri (six from three times); and to Sibu (11 from seven times)."

"In addition, flights from Kuching to Sibu will be increased to 25 from 21 times weekly one way," said AirAsia.

The low-cost carrier also offered all-in-fares promotion starting today until June 3, 2018 for the travel period between June 4 and October 30, 2018.

AirAsia guests are encouraged to be at the airport three hours prior to departure time and check in via web, mobile or kiosk services to avoid an expected congestion.

Source: Bernama | 28 May 2018