Lapangan terbang baharu akan dibina di daerah Perak Tengah, Perak

IPOH: Kementerian Pengangkutan sudah menerima cadangan Kerajaan Negeri Perak untuk membangunkan sebuah lapangan terbang baharu di daerah Perak Tengah.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kesihatan, Pengangkutan Awam, Hal Ehwal Bukan Islam, Integrasi Nasional dan Kampung Baharu negeri, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, berkata projek itu akan dilaksanakan di Gerbang Perindustrian Cempaka Sari (GPCS) di Mukim Bota dan Lambor Kanan.

Projek itu di tanah kerajaan seluas 4,176.7 hektar, akan dilaksanakan oleh Malaysian Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRCB).

Dr Mah berkata, pihaknya mendapat maklum balas kementerian berhubung cadangan pembinaan lapangan terbang baharu menerusi satu surat bertarikh 24 Oktober lalu.

"Surat itu antara lain menyatakan kementerian sudah mengadakan satu mesyuarat bersama Suruhanjaya Penerbangan Malaysia, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, MRCB, kerajaan negeri serta beberapa agensi di bawahnya, pada 8 Mei lalu.

"Dalam mesyuarat itu, MRCB memaklumkan pembinaan lapangan terbang di GPCS adalah berkonsepkan zon perdagangan bebas, hab pengangkutan, terminal kargo bersepadu, pintu masuk antarabangsa dan zon pembangunan ekonomi, pendidikan dan perumahan," katanya dalam sidang media di luar persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri di sini, hari ini.

Tambah Dr Mah, mesyuarat turut memutuskan supaya MRCB melaksanakan satu kajian kebolehlaksanaan bagi menilai cadangan itu dan melantik KMPG sebuah syarikat juruperunding bagi menyiapkan laporan akhir.

"Setelah laporan akhir ditamatkan ia akan dibentangkan dalam Majlis Ekonomi Negara yang dipengerusikan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak," katanya.

Sehubungan itu, Dr Mah yang juga Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Chenderiang menafikan dakwaan pembangkang bahawa lapangan terbang baharu itu tidak akan dibina.

"Apa yang dipetik dan dinyatakan ADUN Kepayang, Nga Kor Ming pada sesi bahas (Bajet Perak 2018) adalah satu kenyataan yang diputar belit," katanya.

Katanya, kementerian bersama kerajaan negeri akan mengadakan satu lagi mesyuarat pada Selasa depan bagi membincangkan lebih lanjut berhubung pembinaan lapangan terbang baharu berkenaan.

"Pihak kerajaan negeri memang serius dan mengutamakan pembangunan lapangan terbang. Pihak kementerian bukan mengambil cadangan syarikat swasta (MRCB) sewenang-wenangnya tetapi ia melalui kerajaan negeri," katanya.

Sumber: Bernama | 24 November 2017

AirAsia launches Bintulu - Singapore route with free seats

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd, the world’s best low-cost airline for nine times in a row, has launched its first international route from Bintulu, Sarawak to Singapore, commencing on December 27, 2017 with four times weekly direct flights.

In a statement here, the airline said the introduction of the new unique route was in line with its continuous expansion plan in Sarawak.

“Besides adding two new routes to the state, namely Kuching-Shenzhen and Bintulu-Singapore, the airline is also increasing flight frequencies between key routes — Kuching - Miri to 29 times weekly, Kuching - Singapore to 16 times weekly, and Miri - Singapore to seven times weekly,” it said.

To celebrate the launch, AirAsia is offering free seats from Bintulu to Singapore which is available for booking from now to November 12, 2017 on airasia.com and AirAsia’s mobile app for iPhone and Android devices, for the travel period between December 27, 2017 and November 21, 2018.

“The new route and added flight frequencies continue to strengthen our position in Sabah/Sarawak and further reaffirm our commitment to develop Sarawak, consistent with our current plan for the state,” said Head of Commercial, Spencer Lee.

AirAsia now flies to three destinations from Bintulu — Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching — with a total of 39 weekly flights one way.

Effective November 7, 2017, AirAsia will relocate operations at Singapore Changi Airport from Terminal 1 to the new state-of-the-art, fully-automated Terminal 4 to embrace the Fast and Seamless Travel initiative.

 

Source: Bernama | 4 November 2017

Malaysia Airlines celebrates inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya

SURABAYA: Malaysia Airlines today celebrated its inaugural Kuala Lumpur-Surabaya-Kuala Lumpur service, with a welcome and send-off event at Juanda International Airport, the second largest airport in Indonesia.

The event was graced by the Malaysian Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, Malaysia Airlines chief commercial officer Arved von zur Muehlen and several Indonesian senior local government officers.

Flight MH871 departed Kuala Lumpur at 6.30am. Upon arrival, passengers were treated to a colourful cultural performance by dancers from Tourism Indonesia and treated to special goodies.

Muehlen told Bernama that MAS was delighted to be in Surabaya to celebrate the inaugural Kuala Lumpur-Surabaya-Kuala Lumpur service, marking the airline's fourth key destination in Indonesia.

"We are excited to resume direct flights to Surabaya ... This route expansion will provide superior connectivity with direct flights operating four times weekly to and from Kuala Lumpur to the second busiest airport in Indonesia," he said.

MAS stopped direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya four years ago as part of its worldwide rationalisation exercise.

"I am happy to be able to celebrate and reaffirm the strong ties between Malaysia and Indonesia with the resumption of our operations into Surabaya. I am also happy to announce that we will be increasing the four times weekly Kuala Lumpur-Surabaya flights to daily, beginning early December," he added.

The four-times weekly service to and from Surabaya is operated by the airline's new generation B737-800 aircraft with 160 seats, comprising 16 Business Class seats and 144 Economy Class seats.

Meanwhile, Zahrain said the Kuala Lumpur-Surabaya direct flight was timely as there was overwhelming demand for the sector.

Statistics showed that direct flights to Surabaya and vice-versa flew at full capacity as many Malaysians were holidaying in Surabaya while Indonesians frequently flew to Kuala Lumpur to visit their families.

Source: Bernama | 29 October 2017

LIA dan LTSIP diperbesar bagi menampung 4 juta penumpang setahun

Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Kota Bharu, Kelantan. 

SEJUMLAH RM89 juta diperuntukan Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk projek pembesaran dan naik taraf Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi (LIA), Pulau Langkawi, Kedah yang dibahagikan kepada dua fasa pelaksanaan. 

Fasa 1 projek pembesaran dan naik taraf LIA melibatkan kerja-kerja pembesaran kawasan parkir kenderaan telah bermula pada 1 September 2017 dan dijadualkan siap pada 15 Oktober 2017 yang lepas, manakala Fasa 2 pula melibatkan pembinaan dan pembesaran balai ketibaan, tandas, terminal komersial, surau, dan laluan masuk kenderaan ke bangunan terminal utama dijadualkan bermula pada 15 Oktober lepas dan dijangka dapat disiapkan pada 31 Ogos 2018. 

Projek pembesaran dan naik taraf LIA ini akan meningkatkan kapasiti LIA daripada 1.5 juta penumpang setahun kepada 4 juta penumpang setahun. 

Di sebelah Pantai Timur pula, projek pembesaran dan naik taraf Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Kota Bharu, Kelantan dijangka dapat dimulakan pada Januari 2018 dan dijangka dapat disiapkan dalam tempoh 36 bulan dengan peruntukan sebanyak RM450 juta di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Kesebelas. 

Projek pembesaran dan naik taraf LTSIP ini juga melibatkan pembesaran bangunan terminal sedia ada untuk menampung sehingga 4 juta penumpang setahun berbanding 1.45 juta penumpang setahun yang mampu ditampung oleh bangunan terminal sedia ada. 

Antara komponen lain projek pembesaran dan naik taraf LTSIP ini adalah pembinaan bangunan parkir bertingkat dengan 1,200 petak parkir, jalan rayap (taxiway) menghubungkan apron parkir pesawat dengan hujung landasan no. 10 dan pemanjangan landasan daripada 2,400 meter kepada 2,500 meter untuk kegunaan pesawat berbadan lebar. 

Tawaran tender untuk kerja-kerja pembinaan bagi projek pembesaran dan naik taraf LTSIP ini telah dikeluarkan pada bulan Ogos 2017 yang lepas dan keputusannya dijangka diumumkan tidak lama lagi. 

Sumber: Kota Bharu Airport | www.kotabharuairport.blogspot.com 

Kota Bharu berpotensi jadi destinasi penerbangan domestik AirAsia yang seterusnya dari LTAS, Johor

Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Senai (LTAS), Johor Bahru, Johor.

MERUJUK kepada laporan Utusan Malaysia bertarikh 3 Oktober 2017 dengan tajuk "AirAsia tambah operasi dua lagi pesawat di LTAS, Johor", syarikat penerbangan AirAsia diharap dapat menyambung semula laluan penerbangan Johor Bahru - Kota Bharu yang amat dinanti-nantikan dalam kalangan rakyat Johor dan Kelantan serta Singapura.

Untuk rekod, AirAsia pernah beroperasi bagi laluan ini pada tahun 2006 dari 7 Februari sehingga 28 Oktober  dengan kekerapan tiga kali seminggu, iaitu setiap hari Selasa, Khamis, dan Sabtu, manakala Penerbangan Firefly juga pernah beroperasi bagi laluan ini dari 24 April 2012 sehingga Oktober 2016. 

AirAsia kini menempatkan empat buah pesawat jenis A320-200 di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Senai (LTAS), Johor Bahru, Johor yang menjadi hab selatannya dan dua buah pesawat lagi bakal ditempatkan di LTAS menjelang akhir tahun ini. 

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Aireen Omar berkata, pertambahan menjadi enam pesawat itu dapat meningkatkan jumlah penerbangan domestik dan antarabangsa dari negeri itu sekali gus dapat menarik minat pelancong datang ke Johor Bahru melalui jalan udara. 

Katanya, AirAsia menyasarkan untuk terus menambah laluan domestik dan antarabangsa melalui LTAS mengikut pelan pertumbuhan jangka panjang bagi tempoh lima tahun syarikat. 

Pada masa ini, terdapat sembilan destinasi penerbangan domestik AirAsia dari Johor Bahru, iaitu Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Langkawi, Miri, Pulau Pinang, Sibu dan Tawau, manakala destinasi penerbangan antarabangsa pula ialah Bangkok, Guangzhou, Bandar Raya Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta dan Surabaya serta Kolkata dan Macau mulai 28 November 2017. 

Analisis secara umum mendapati bahawa Kota Bharu sememangnya berpotensi untuk menjadi destinasi penerbangan domestik yang seterusnya dari Johor Bahru dengan mengambil kira jumlah pengerakan penumpang yang melebihi dua juta orang yang dikendalikan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Kota Bharu, Kelantan semenjak tahun 2015.

Secara perbandingan, lapangan-lapangan terbang domestik lain seperti di Alor Setar (Kedah), Kuantan (Pahang), Labuan (Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan), Sandakan (Sabah) dan Bintulu (Sarawak) mencatatkan jumlah pengendalian penumpang kurang daripada sejuta penumpang setahun.

Pada masa ini, AirAsia menawarkan tiga destinasi penerbangan domestik dari Kota Bharu, iaitu Kuala Lumpur (sehingga 9x sehari), Kota Kinabalu (3x seminggu) dan Kuching (3x seminggu). Bagi laluan Kota Bharu - Johor Bahru, Airasia dicadangkan supaya menawarkan laluan ini dengan kekerapan tiga kali seminggu. 

Sumber: Kota Bharu Airport | www.kotabharuairport.blogspot.com

Capt Izham: We'll make MAS pride of the nation again

PETALING JAYA: New Malaysia Airlines chief executive officer Capt Izham Ismail says "it is an honour and a big responsibility" to be at the helm of the national carrier.

"My entire career has been spent with Malaysia Airlines and it is very much my family.

"Helming the national airline is a big responsibility. I am humbled and at the same time, ready for the challenge.

"We are on track towards a full and complete transformation as outlined in the MRP (12-point MAS Recovery Plan), and I am looking forward to working with my MH colleagues to make this airline the pride of the nation again,” he said.

Capt Izham (pix above), presently chief operating officer, will assume the new role on Dec 1 upon the departure of Peter Bellew who is currently on administrative leave. Bellew has taken up a position at Irish airline Ryanair.

Appointed to a management position just 10 years after joining Malaysia Airlines, Capt Izham has climbed through the ranks over the years, including as Senior Instructor Pilot, Fleet Manager, and Director of Operations.

Prior to becoming COO in 2016, he served as CEO of MASwings, Malaysia Airlines’ sister company in Sabah and Sarawak.

Capt Izham has also been integral to the airline’s ongoing turnaround effort.

As COO, he was responsible for the operations division, which includes flight and airport operations as well as engineering.

"He led the restructuring of the engineering division for more efficient and leaner operations, and was also responsible for the airline’s fuel savings initiative," MAB said in a statement.

Capt Izham has logged 38 years of experience in the aviation industry, having started his career with Malaysia Airlines as a pilot in 1979.

He broke world aviation records when he flew Malaysia Airlines’ first B777-200 eastward from Seattle to Kuala Lumpur and back.

The flight set new world records for longest flight and fastest round-the-world flight by a commercial airliner, with a total flight time of 41 hours 59 minutes over a distance of 23,310 miles.

Source: The Star Online | 20 October 2017

Capt Izham Ismail is new MAS chief executive

PETALING JAYA: Capt Izham Ismail (pix) has been appointed Malaysia Airlines Bhd executive director and group chief executive officer replacing Peter Bellew.

Capt Izham is presently the chief operating officer of the airline.

The Board of Directors (Board) of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) and Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) said Capt Izham’s appointment "is in line with the succession plan that MAB has put in place as part of the 12-point MAS Recovery Plan (MRP)."

The plan provides for the development and succession of Malaysian leadership talent in the company.

"It will be led by Chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof and will include Board members Tan Sri Krishnan Tan Boon Seng, Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Isa and Sheranjiv Sammanthan," they said in a statement.

Bellew resigned from MAS last week to take up a position at Ireland’s best known airline, Ryanair.

Source: The Star Online | 20 October 2017