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

Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport is world's busiest LCC

Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport

Don Mueang International is the world's busiest low-cost-carrier (LCC) airport in terms of passenger traffic, ahead of Las Vegas and Kuala Lumpur, according to the Center for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

Expecting a bright future for the airport, Malaysia-based AirAsia Group yesterday expressed interest in investing in an aircraft parking bay at Don Mueang, while several other budget airlines plan to spread their wings into Thailand in the final quarter of the year.

Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, president of Airports of Thailand (AOT), operator of six international airports, said Don Mueang served 22.5 million passengers between January and August although the airport's official capacity is 18.5 million per year.

He said the CAPA Center for Aviation, which is based in Australia, had earlier put the number of passenger traveling with LCCs via Don Mueang Airport at 13.4 million during the first six months of this year, but actually the airport served 14.4 million passengers during the first half.

The aviation center also marked Bangkok's Don Mueang as the world's busiest LCC airport for the first time.

Don Mueang now serves more LCC passengers than Las Vegas McCarren International Airport in the US (13.3 million in the first half), Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia (12.6 million), Barcelona El Prat Airport in Spain (12 million), and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Indonesia (12 million).

According to the CAPA, Don Mueang saw passenger traffic surge by 50 per cent between January and June this year. Moreover, Thailand's LCC fleet is expected to number 100 by the end of 2015. The country's LCC sector consisted of 87 aircraft as of the end of the first half, up from 74 at the end of 2014.

Nitinai said AOT would reopen its renovated terminal at Don Mueang by the end of November to cope with an expected surge of arrivals during high season. When its capacity is combined with the existing terminal's, the airport will be able to serve up to 30 million passengers per year.

He said at least three new budget airlines from Japan, China and South Korea would begin operating to Don Mueang Airport next quarter.

Currently, major low-cost airlines operating at Don Mueang include Thai Smile, Nok, NookScoot, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, and Thai Lion Air.

Tony Fernandes, group chief executive officer of AirAsia Group, said Thailand was a great hub of air travel and Don Mueang had potential to grow further, particularly for budget travelers.

However, he noted that the airport still had limited aircraft parking bays, so AirAsia is interested in investing in such facilities. Therefore, it is needs to discuss the details with AOT.

During the first quarter of this year, AOT earned profit of Bt13.8 billion, almost as much as in the whole of 2014.

Source: The Jakarta Post | 16 September 2015

AirAsia has exceeded deadline, should move to KKIA Terminal 1: PM

Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak launches the Kota Kinabalu International Airport Terminal 1 facility. 

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak delivered an ultimatum that AirAsia has to move its operations to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 1, stating that the airline has 'exceeded their timeframe'. 

He said Terminal 2 where the low-cost-carrier is operating from has already exceeded its passenger capacity of two million passengers per annum (ppa), as last year its actual passenger volume was 3.6 million ppa. 

AirAsia has been involved in disagreement with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd ‎(MAHB) since they were asked to move to Terminal 1 back in 2011, with the last deadline given August 1 this year. 

"They (AirAsia) have already exceeded the time frame; they have to go. "We want this to be done as you (AirAsia) are not doing justice to the people if operations not shifted to Terminal 1. 

The airport has been planned for the future of Sabah folks and is a contribution from the federal government," he said when officially launching the Terminal 1 facility here. 

Najib added that airports management, MAHB has pledged RM10 million to Sabah Tourism Board for marketing purposes, with the condition that all airlines moved operations to KKIA Terminal 1.

Currently only AirAsia are operating from Terminal 2. He said Sabah has major potential to develop its tourism sector and attracting more airlines to fly here, hence the importance of streamlining all operations in Terminal 1 which have better facilities. 

"The moment of truth is that first contact of tourists coming here is through airport, and we need to paint a picture whether we are first world or third world country. "This include immigration and customs facilities, do we make they feel welcomed in Malaysia ... All services must come together," he explained. 

On the launching event held on Malaysia Day itself, Najib said it brought significance as connectivity plays an important factor in nation building and national integration. He is set to attend the Malaysia Day celebration at Padang Merdeka downtown at 8pm tonight, which is expected to be attended by thousands of people.

Source: New Straits Times | 16 September 2015

Firefly kukuhkan hab sekundernya di Kota Bharu dengan laluan Kota Bharu - Pulau Langkawi

KOTA BHARU: Syarikat penerbangan Firefly mengukuhkan hab sekundernya di Kota Bharu, Kelantan dengan memperkenalkan laluan Kota Bharu - Pulau Langkawi bermula 27 Oktober ini. 

Perkhidmatan penerbangan terus ini ditawarkan dengan kekerapan tiga kali seminggu, iaitu setiap hari Selasa, Khamis, dan Sabtu dijangka dapat memberi manfaat besar bukan sahaja kepada warga Kelantan yang ingin ke Pulau Langkawi tetapi juga warga Terengganu dan wilayah Narathiwat di Selatan Thailand yang boleh mengambil penerbangan dari Kota Bharu. 

Warga Terengganu misalnya boleh memakir kenderaan mereka di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra Kota Bharu (LTSIP) untuk mengambil penerbangan dari lapangan terbang ini. Kemudahan penginapan yang ada berhampiran lapangan terbang ini juga akan memudahkan penumpang yang memerlukannya. 

Selain laluan Kota Bharu - Pulau Langkawi, Firefly juga menawarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan terus dari Kota Bharu ke Kuala Lumpur (Subang), Pulau Pinang, dan Johor Bahru. 

Dalam pada itu, Firefly diminta mempertimbang untuk memperkenalkan laluan Kota Bharu - Bandar Raya Ho Chi Minh dan Kota Bharu - Bangkok (Don Mueang) yang mendapat permintaan tinggi daripada warga Kelantan khususnya dan juga warga Pantai Timur secara amnya.

Untuk maklumat lanjut dan tempahan tiket secara dalam talian, sila layari laman sesawang www.fireflyz.com.my.

Sumber: Kota Bharu Airport Blog | www.kotabharuairport.blogspot.my

LTSIP kendali 1.02 juta penumpang dari Januari - Jun tahun ini

LTSIP kekal sebagai lapangan terbang tersibuk di Pantai Timur. 

KOTA BHARU: Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra Kota Bharu (LTSIP) terus mencatatkan peningkatan jumlah pengendalian penumpang dengan mengendalikan 1,016,492 orang penumpang dari Januari sehingga Jun tahun ini. Ia merupakan peningkatan sebanyak 167,469 orang penumpang atau 19.72 peratus berbanding dalam tempoh yang sama pada tahun lepas. 

Jumlah pengendalian ini sebenarnya telah mengatasi jumlah pengendalian penumpang setahun lapangan terbang ini pada tahun 2009 yang mengendalikan 1,003,162 dan hampir menyamai jumlah pengendalian penumpang pada tahun 2010, iaitu sebanyak 1,047,755. 

Secara perbandingan, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Mahmud Kuala Terengganu (LTSM) telah mengendalikan 423,673 orang penumpang dari Januari sehingga Jun tahun ini, manakala Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ahmad Shah Kuantan (LTSAS) mengendalikan 152,342 orang penumpang dalam tempoh yang sama. 

Dengan kata lain, LTSIP kekal sebagai lapangan terbang tersibuk di Pantai Timur dan yang kesembilan tersibuk di Malaysia dari segi jumlah pengendalian penumpang selepas Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kota Kinabalu (KKIA), Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang (PIA), Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuching (KIA), Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (LTSAAS), Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Senai (SIA), Lapangan Terbang Miri (LTM), dan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi (LIA). 

Dalam pada itu, pada tahun ini LTSIP dijangka mengendalikan kira-kira 2.1 juta penumpang dan dijangka meneruskan momentum peringkatan jumlah penumpang dari tahun ke tahun dengan pertumbuhan dua angka. 

Sumber: Kota Bharu Airport Blog | www.kotabharuairport.blogspot.my

Malaysia Airlines Berhad bermula dengan 56 laluan domestik dan antarabangsa dari KLIA

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) yang telah memulakan operasi komersial sejak 1 September lepas bermula dengan 56 laluan domestik dan antarabangsa dari hab utamanya di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA). 

MAB ditubuhkan sebagai sebuah syarikat penerbangan antarabangsa (international airline) dan bukannya sebagai sebuah syarikat penerbangan serantau (regional airline) seperti mana yang dirancang pada peringkat awal penubuhannya. 

Sebagai sebuah syarikat penerbangan antarabangsa yang baharu, Malaysia Airlines menawarkan 41 laluan antarabangsa melibatkan laluan di rantau Asia Tenggara, Asia Timur, Asia Barat, Asia Selatan, Oceania, dan Eropah, manakala selebihnya merupakan laluan domestik. Berikut merupakan laluan domestik dan antarabangsa yang ditawarkan Malaysia Airlines dari Terminal KLIA 1, KLIA:- 

1. Domestik (15 laluan): Alor Setar, Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Kuching, Labuan, Miri, Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Pinang, Sandakan, Sibu, dan Tawau. 
2. Asia Tenggara (13): Bandar Raya Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Bandar Seri Begawan, Denpasar, Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta), Hanoi, Manila, Medan, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Siem Reap, Singapura, dan Yangon. 
3. Asia Timur (9): Beijing (Capital), Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Osaka (Kansai), Seoul (Incheon), Shanghai  (Pudong), Taipei (Taoyuan), Tokyo (Narita), dan Xiamen. 
4. Asia Barat (2): Dubai dan Jeddah. 
5. Asia Selatan (8): Bangalore, Chennai, Colombo, Delhi, Dhaka, Hyderabad, Kathmandu, dan Mumbai. 
6. Oceania (6): Adelaide, Auckland, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, dan Sydney. 
7. Eropah (3): Amsterdam, London (Heathrow), dan Paris (Charles de Gaulle). 

Selain itu, Malaysia Airlines juga menawarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan ke Amerika Utara dan Scandinavia melalui perkongsian kod dengan beberapa syarikat penerbangan antarabangsa, iaitu American Airlines dan Japan Airlines bagi laluan ke Amerika Utara termasuk Hawaii serta KLM bagi laluan ke Scandinavia dan beberapa bandar raya Eropah yang lain termasuk Rome.

Dalam pada itu, Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kota Kinabalu (KKIA) dijadikan hab sekundernya dan menawarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan antarabangsa ke Shanghai (Pudong), Taipei (Taoyuan), dan Tokyo (Narita), manakala satu laluan antarabangsa ditawarkan dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuching (KIA), iaitu ke Singapura. 

Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila layari laman sesawang www.malaysiaairlines.com. 

Sumber: Kota Bharu Airport Blog | www.kotabharuairport.blogspot.my

Malaysia Airlines and Air Lease Corporation sign lease agreements for four Airbus A350s

Airbus A350-900 (A350-900)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) and Air Lease Corporation on Thursday signed long-term lease agreements for four new Airbus A350-900s.

In a statement on Friday, Malaysia Airlines said the transaction also includes a lease option for two additional A350-900s and two A330-900neo aircraft.

Powered by two Rolls Royce Trent XWB-84 engines, the A350-900 aircraft are from ALC's order book with Airbus and will be delivered between the fourth quarter of 2017 and the second quarter of 2018.

"We are excited to have this aircraft as part of our fleet. The A350 is the most technologically advanced aircraft and we are confident that it will deliver exceptional passenger comfort and improve the overall efficiency of our fleet.

We are very pleased to partner with Air Lease Corporation on this strategic transaction," said Malaysia Airlines' Chief Executive Officer Christoph Mueller.

"ALC is honored to welcome Malaysia Airlines Berhad as our newest valued customer. We are confident that these aircraft will maximize Malaysia Airlines' operations to help grow its business while simultaneously reducing its operating costs and emissions," said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, Air Lease Corporation's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

"ALC looks forward to building a strong long-term relationship with Malaysia Airlines Berhad in the future," he added.

Source: Bernama | 11 September 2015

Kuala Terengganu Sultan Mahmud Airport to be upgraded

Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu. 

KUALA NERUS: The Terengganu state government is planning to upgrade some of the facilities at Sultan Mahmud Airport, here to provide more conducive environment for passengers.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the state government was currently in the process of preparing the proposal to upgrade the facilities including to build refuelling area at the airport.

"In fact, we will also increase the capacity of cargo facilities that will certainly give more benefits to airlines operation.

"We also want to increase the number of kiosks and outlets inside airport terminal so that more branded items can be sold," he told reporters after sending off the second group of 270 pilgrims from Terengganu to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the airport, here today.

He however stressed that the overall cost for upgrading works had not been decided yet.

Elaborating further, Ahmad Razif said the state government would be building a fast food with drive-through restaurant called T-Food near the airport.

"T stands for Terengganu, which will be serving the state's traditional food like nasi dagang, ikan celup tepung and keropok lekor.

"The restaurant will boost the state's economy and provide jobs for the locals," he said.

Source: Bernama | 4 September 2015

Firefly offers fares as low as RM29 in conjunction with merdeka

KUALA LUMPUR: Firefly is offering fares as low as RM29 on all its domestic routes for travels between Sept 21, 2015 and March 26, 2016.

Firefly Chief Executive Officer Ignatius Ong said bookings were opened from today until 11.59 pm on Friday for the promotional tickets in conjunction with the Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day.

"This is a great opportunity to have family trips within the country during the school holiday from Sept 19 to 27," he said in a statement Monday.

He said Firefly is also set to launch a new route between Kota Bharu and Langkawi three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) on Oct 27.

This route will facilitate those in Kelantan wishing to travel to Langkawi, he said, adding that they could also take advantage of the RM29 promotional package.

Tickets can be purchased from travel agents and via the Firefly website and booking offices.

Source: Bernama | 7 September 2015