Rep: Kelantan needs airport fast

KOTA BHARU: The state government has urged the Federal Government to speed up the construction of an international airport as a catalyst for tourism in Kelantan.

State Youth, Sports, Human Development and Non-Governmental Organisation Committee chairman Abdul Fatah Mahmood said the airport could take foreign investors to Kelantan directly without having to go to KL International Airport first.

“The call to build an international airport here had been brought up by many quarters, including Sultan Muhammad V whenever he opens the state assembly meeting every year,” Abdul Fatah told reporters after opening Al-Quds Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd's Air Asia Tourism Services centre here.

Abdul Fatah said the state government was also awaiting confirmation from the Transport Ministry over the status of the Sultan Ismail Petra airport in Pengkalan Chepa.

SOURCE: The Star | 27 September 2011 | 

Kelantan airport to soar

KOTA BHARU: The Sultan Ismail Petra Airport here is set to soar to become a regional hub for international flights after the upgrading of the runway and other facilities at a cost of RM45mil.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the runway had been extended from 1,981m to 2,400m, which could accommodate Airbus 320 and Boeing 737-800 series aircraft.

Several new taxiways have also been constructed to accommodate more aircraft, while facilities have been created for helicopter parking services and rescheduled visual docking guidance system. 

“I am happy to note that the project is going on schedule since works started in June last year.

“The project is almost completed, and it will be operational by Sept 9,” he told reporters after being briefed on the project by Malaysia Airports Berhad officials at the Sultan Ismail Petra airport here yesterday.

Kong said the runway needed to be expanded to accommodate bigger commercial aircraft.

He added that the better facilities would make the airport a regional hub for direct flights to Singapore or South Thailand.

“My ministry welcomes plans by any airline to start direct flights from anywhere because the airport here is ready to take in more traffic,” he said.

“This airport is ready for international flights from Asean countries. At the same time it can generate economic activities for locals in the tourism and transport sectors,” he added.

Malaysian Airlines, AirAsia and FireFly make an average of five to 10 flights each from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Baru daily.

SOURCE: The Star | 20 August 2011 | 

Khidmat antarabangsa di LTSIP boleh mula Sept - Cho Ha

KOTA BHARU 19 Ogos — Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP) di Pengkalan Chepa di sini boleh mengendalikan perkhidmatan penerbangan antarabangsa setelah projek menaiktaraf bernilai RM45.5 juta siap bulan depan.

Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha berkata, dengan pemanjangan landasan daripada 1,980 meter kepada 2,400 meter itu dapat membolehkan pendaratan pesawat lebih besar termasuk Airbus A330 dan Boeing 737-800.

Katanya, projek naiktaraf LTSIP, yang bermula pada Jun tahun lepas, berjalan mengikut jadual dan sehingga kini telah siap 99.85 peratus serta dijangka siap sepenuhnya bulan depan.

"Diharap lebih banyak syarikat penerbangan domestik dan antarabangsa akan menambahkan penerbangan ke Kota Bharu selepas projek naiktaraf ini siap nanti,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri taklimat mengenai perkembangan projek naiktaraf LTSIP, di sini, hari ini.

Cho Ha berkata, lapangan terbang itu juga mempunyai pelbagai kemudahan termasuk Kompleks Kastam, Imigresen dan Kuarantin (CIQ) serta tempat pakir helikopter baru.

Beliau berkata, LTSIP telah mengendalikan sehingga satu juta penumpang tahun lepas dan dijangka mencapai 1.1 juta penumpang pada tahun ini. — Bernama

SOURCE: Utusan Malaysia/BERNAMA | 19 August 2011 | 

KB airport 'can be hub for region'

KOTA BHARU: The Transport Ministry is prepared to turn Sultan Ismail Petra Airport near here into an international hub if there is demand from airlines, Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said yesterday. 

He hoped airlines would introduce flights to new places from the airport, especially with the opening of the newly-widened runway next month. "If there are applications from airlines to fly to foreign destinations from here, we will consider them. 


"I encourage airlines to use the airport to go to destinations in the region like Singapore and southern Thailand. "The terminal is adequate to put up facilities like Immigration and Customs counters," he said after visiting the airport's expansion project. 


Kong said the airport at Pengkalan Chepa handled one million passengers last year and it was expected to reach 1.1 million this year. The airport runway has been lengthened from 1,981m to 2,400m, and can accommodate the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800.


"The work is 99.8 per cent complete and I am confident that it will be ready for handing over to the government after Hari Raya." The RM45.5 million project includes the construction of a taxiway, helicopter pads, a meteorological station and instrument landing system.


SOURCE: The New Straits Times | 19 August 2011 |