Guan Eng disappointed request to expand Penang airport rejected

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pix) is disappointed the request to expand the Penang International Airport (PIA) is not happening in the near future.

The Bagan MP said he found this out in the reply by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to his question in Parliament.

He questioned why there was no expansion even though arrivals to the PIA was estimated to reach 6.6 million by the end of this year which was above the current capacity of 6.5 million.

He said demand of 6.5 million arrivals was only expected in 2020 but seemed to be coming earlier than estimated.

He said the PIA was the second most busiest airport after the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) so the expansion could not be delayed.

"The longer the upgrade, the worse this becomes for the PIA," he said in a press conference today.

In the reply, Liow reportedly said the expansion was postponed as the project was not in the Second Rolling Plan of the 11th Malaysian Plan (11MP) due to allocation constraints by the federal government.

He nonetheless said the federal administration had plans to expand the PIA to deal with 10 million passengers per annum.

Source: The Sun Daily | 29 November 2016

Malindo Air dijangka sambung semula laluan Kota Bharu - Bandar Raya Melaka mulai Mac 2017

SYARIKAT penerbangan Malindo Air dijangka menyambung semula laluan penerbangan Kota Bharu - Bandar Raya Melaka yang digantung sejak Oktober 2015 pada pertengahan bulan Mac 2017 bersempena cuti persekolahan yang dijadualkan bermula pada 17/18 Mac 2017.

Laporan Bernama bertarikh 20 November 2016 dan disiarkan beberapa buah akhbar termasuk Utusan Malaysia sehari selepas itu menyebut bahawa laluan ini akan disambung semula pada tahun hadapan.

Malindo Air dijangka membuka jualan tiket bagi laluan ini seawal bulan Januari tahun hadapan dengan menawarkan perkhidmatan sekurang-kurangnya tiga kali seminggu bagi laluan ini. 

Penerbangan bagi laluan ini dijangka menggunakan pesawat dari Kota Bharu terbang ke Bandar Raya Melaka dan dari Bandar Raya Melaka terbang semula ke Kota Bharu menggunakan pesawat jenis ATR72-600 dengan 72 tempat duduk. 

Laluan ini dijangka mendapat sambutan yang jauh lebih baik berbanding sebelumnya dan diharap berkekalan untuk kemudahan rakyat kedua-dua buah negeri, iaitu Kelantan dan Melaka. 

Laluan ini juga sebenarnya dapat memberi manfaat kepada penduduk beberapa daerah di sebelah utara negeri Johor seperti Muar dan Tangkak  yang juga boleh mengambil penerbangan ke Kelantan melalui Lapangan Terbang Melaka yang terletak di Batu Berendam, Melaka. 

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

Landasan LTSIP patut dipanjangkan kepada 3,500 m, bukannya kepada 2,500 m

Gambar hiasan: Landasan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa U-Tapao, Pattaya, Thailand dengan kepanjangan kira-kira 3,505 m. 

RAKYAT Kelantan sudah terlalu lama untuk melihat kemudahan landasan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Kota Bharu, Kelantan dipanjangkan untuk pengendalian pesawat berbadan lebar terutamanya A330-300, B777-200ER, dan A350-900. 

Kali terakhir landasan LTSIP dipanjangkan pada tahun 2010 - 2011 yang melibatkan pemanjangan landasan daripada 1,981 meter (m) kepada 2,400 m untuk pengendalian pesawat jenis B737-800 yang mula menjadi angkatan pesawat Malaysia Airlines (MAS) pada ketika itu. 

Di bawah Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK9: 2006 - 2010), landasan LTSIP sepatutnya dipanjangkan daripada 1,981 m kepada 3,200 m tetapi Kerajaan Persekutuan akhirnya hanya memanjangkan landasan LTSIP kepada 2,400 m sahaja. 

Beberapa orang yang pernah dan sedang menjadi Menteri Pengangkutan dan Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan sering kali menafikan permintaan rakyat Kelantan supaya landasan LTSIP dipanjangkan untuk mengendalikan pesawat berbadan lebar. Kata mereka, dengan kepanjangan landasan sedia ada, LTSIP sudah mampu mengendalikan penerbangan antarabangsa dengan menggunakan pesawat jenis A320-200 (yang biasa digunakan AirAsia) dan B737-800 (MAS). 

Persoalannnya di sini, mengapa landasan lapangan-lapangan terbang di Alor Setar, Labuan, Miri, Bintulu, dan Sibu boleh pula Kerajaan Persekutuan memanjangkannya masing-masing kepada 2,745 m? Landasan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Mahmud di Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu pula telah dipanjangkan daripada 2,012 m kepada 3,480 m di bawah RMK9, manakala Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ahmad Shah di Kuantan, Pahang dilengkapi dengan sebatang landasan sepanjang 2,804 m. 

Mengapa LTSIP memerlukan landasan sepanjang 3,500 meter? 

• Di Malaysia, kesemua enam lapangan terbang antarabangsa mempunyai kepanjangan landasan melebihi 3,300 m. Jadi, LTSIP yang amat berpotensi menjadi sebuah lapangan terbang antarabangsa perlulah dipanjangkan landasannya mengikut standard lapangan-lapangan terbang antarabangsa yang lain. 
• Kemudahan landasan yang cukup panjang akan menambah daya tarikan syarikat penerbangan tempatan dan asing untuk beroperasi di LTSIP terutamanya melibatkan penggunaan pesawat berbadan lebar. 
• Syarikat penerbangan yang beroperasi tidak perlu lagi memikirkan berat muatan dan jumlah penumpang yang boleh diangkut dalam satu-satu penerbangan jika LTSIP mempunyai landasan yang cukup panjang. 
• Pesawat berbadan lebar boleh diutuskan ke Kota Bharu bagi perkhidmatan penerbangan haji secara terus ke Tanah Suci dan juga penerbangan tambahan pada musim-musim perayaan terutamanya Aidilfitri dan Aidiladha. 
• Kota Bharu terletak di tengah-tengah persimpangan laluan udara di antara Singapura ke Bangkok, Pulau Pinang ke Hong Kong, dan Singapura ke Eropah. Jika berlaku apa-apa kecemasan, pesawat komersial yang melintasi ruang udara Kota Bharu boleh mendarat di Kota Bharu tanpa sebarang masalah kerana mempunyai landasan yang cukup panjang.

Peranan Dato' Pa dan Harapan Rakyat

Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed (Dato' Pa), Pengerusi Majlis Tindakan Persekutuan Negeri Kelantan (MTPNK) diharap dapat memainkan peranan dengan menyakinkan Kerajaan Persekutuan supaya dapat memanjangkan landasan LTSIP kepada 3,500 m. Banyak manfaat yang bakal diperoleh rakyat Kelantan jika landasan LTSIP dapat dipanjangkan mengikut standard lapangan-lapangan terbang antarabangsa yang lain seperti Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang, Lapangan Terbang Antarabanga Kota Kinabalu, dan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuching. 

Oleh yang demikian, Kerajaan Persekutuan melalui Kemeterian Pengangkutan Malaysia dan Jabatan Penerbangan Awam Malaysia (DCA) perlulah menimbangkan cadangan ini dan menyediakan peruntukan yang mencukupi untuk pemanjangan landasan LTSIP daripada 2,400 meter kepada 3,500 m atau sekurang-kurangnya kepada 3,200 m, iaitu mengikut perancangan asal projek pemanjangan landasan LTSIP di bawah RMK9.

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

KLIA 2: Hab Penerbangan Tambang Rendah No. 1 Asia

SYARIKAT penerbangan AirAsia dengan kerjasama Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) telah melancarkan kempen untuk meletakkan Terminal KLIA 2 (KLIA 2) di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) sebagai "Hab Penerbangan Tambang Rendah No. 1 Asia" (Asia's No. 1 Low Cost Carrier Hub). 

Kempen ini telah bermula sejak pertengahan Oktober lepas dan AirAsia juga telah memasukkan elemen kempen ini di dalam semua pengumuman pendaratan pesawat di KLIA dengan mengumumkan bahawa KLIA 2 adalah hab penerbangan tambang rendah nombor satu Asia.

AsiaAsia sebagai penyewa utama terminal ini berusaha mempromosikan KLIA 2 sebagai hab penerbangan tambang rendah yang menjadi pusat sehenti ke serata Asia, iaitu melibatkan lebih 120 destinasi domestik dan antarabangsa.

Ia merupakan satu kempen yang bukan hanya untuk mengukuhkan kedudukan KLIA sebagai hab penerbangan tambang rendah utama di rantau Asia tetapi juga untuk menarik lebih ramai pengembara dari serata dunia menggunakan KLIA sebagai hab transit utama untuk ke destinasi-destinasi lain di seluruh Asia.

KLIA 2 merupakan terminal penumpang hibrid yang dilengkapi dengan pelbagai kemudahan seperti Landasan Ketiga (Landasan No. 15/33), perkhidmatan kereta api Express Rail Link (Ekspres KLIA dan KLIA Transit), pusat beli-belah, terminal pengangkutan bersepadu, dan juga hotel. Terminal serba moden ini mampu menampung kapasiti sehingga 45 juta penumpang setahun.

Selain AirAsia (Malaysia), syarikat penerbangan lain yang turut beroperasi di KLIA 2 ialah AirAsia X, Indonesia AirAsia, Philippines AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Jetstar Asia Airways, Mega Maldives, dan Tigerair,

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

MAG to set up new airline for pilgrim charters

MAS CEO Peter Bellew (inset), when contacted by StarBiz yesterday, said “there are no plans for partners at the very start.’’ However, he said “it will start life under MAG but likely will have other financial partners in the future as it becomes a separate business."

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines Group (MAG) is seeking internal candidates to run a new airline dedicated to fly Muslim pilgrims to Mecca using its surplus fleet of A380 super jumbos.

“We will apply for a new airline operating certificate (AOC) in the first quarter of next year,” Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) chief executive officer Peter Bellow said in an internal memo to his staff.

“We are looking for a super start-up team to get this airline up and running,” he said, adding that the positions are open to internal candidates.

The airline group, which owns MAS, will phase out the A380 aircraft from its London route, which has remained unprofitable, by 2018 due to intense competition mainly from Middle Eastern carriers, and replace them with the smaller A350 aircraft.

The new airline venture, if successful, could spur other airlines to do the same and create a new second-hand market for the A380 aircraft, as MAG will add more planes to its fleet.

Capa Centre for Aviation in a report yesterday said MAS was hoping to attract a combination of foreign and local investors to take control of the planned new airline and all six A380s.

MAS CEO Peter Bellew, when contacted by StarBiz yesterday, said “there are no plans for partners at the very start.’’

However, he said “it will start life under MAG but likely will have other financial partners in the future as it becomes a separate business.’’

MAS is a unit of MAG, so is Firefly and MAS Wings.

Capa in a report said MAS was planning to set up a new airline to operate its A380 fleet on religious pilgrimage charters to Saudi Arabia.

All six of the airline’s A380s will be reconfigured from 386 to up to 700 seats by the end of 2018, and transferred to a new operator’s certificate.

The group is calling the plan “Project Hope” – an appropriate name given its current predicament with the A380 fleet, said Capa.

Bellew, quoted by Capa TV, said the airline planned a more extensive retrofit for the A380 fleet, resulting in seat capacity increasing to 650 to 700 seats.

The densest A380 configuration currently in operation is 615 seats, made up of 557 economy and 58 business class seats operated by Emirates.

Capa added that Project Hope has generated significant interest from investors in Malaysia and internationally, giving MAS hope that the project will succeed and the group will be able to resolve its A380 predicament.

“The key is to have the support of Saudi authorities. MAS has already discussed Project Hope with Saudi authorities, which are supportive,’’ it said, adding that it needed multiple operator’s certificates if it wanted to operate beyond Malaysian shores.

The haj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and takes place once a year, with more than one million people travelling by air, while the umrah pilgrimage can be taken at any time of year.

Source: The Star | Business | 23 November 2016

Malacca to open up more flight routes including Malacca - Kota Bharu

MALACCA: The Malacca government is considering opening up several domestic and international flight routes to spur the tourism sector and the aviation industry in the state.

State Transport, Project Rehabilitation and International Trade Committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong said one of the domestic routes was to Kota Bharu which was hitherto handled by Malindo Air.

A new domestic route under consideration was to Langkawi in Kedah, he said at a press conference on the resumption of flights between Pekanbaru in Indonesia and Malacca by Indonesia's Xpress Air.

Also present at the press conference were Xpress Air commercial director Swadono Poernomo and Malacca Airport manager Suhaimi Abdul Sani.

Lim also said that discussions were ongoing on a new international route between Malacca and Batam in Indonesia, which was most likely to be handled by Xpress Air.

He said the Malacca Airport currently handled domestic flights between Melaka and Penang and international flights between Melaka and Pekanbaru as well as between Melaka and Guangzhou in China, provided by Malindo Air, Xpress Air and China Southern Airlines, respectively.

Lim said tourists from Malacca could also transit at Palembang, Lampung and Tanjung Pinang, all in Indonesia, on the route to Pekanbaru handled by Xpress Air. 

Source: Bernama | 20 November 2016

Melaka mahu buka semula laluan penerbangan domestik dan antarabangsa

MELAKA: Kerajaan negeri mahu membuka semula beberapa laluan penerbangan domestik dan antarabangsa bagi merancakkan sektor pelancongan melalui Lapangan Terbang Melaka (LTAM) pada tahun depan.

Exco Pengangkutan, Pemulihan Projek dan Perdagangan Antarabangsa Melaka, Datuk Lim Ban Hong berkata antara laluan domestik yang akan dibuka semula adalah ke Kota Bharu, Kelantan yang sebelum ini dikendalikan Malindo Air.

“Laluan baharu pula adalah ke Pulau Langkawi, Kedah yang belum lagi ditentukan syarikat penerbangannya.

“Selain itu, laluan antarabangsa baharu yang masih dalam perbincangan adalah bagi laluan Melaka ke Batam, Indonesia yang dijangka dikendalikan syarikat penerbangan hibrid Indonesia, Xpress Air.

“Setakat ini, kajian dan perbincangan yang kita sedang lakukan bagi merealisasikan hasrat ini menunjukkan respons positif dan kita yakin ia akan dapat dilaksanakan dengan jaya,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas sidang akhbar penerbangan semula Xpress Air dari Pekanbaru, Indonesia ke Melaka, di sini hari ini yang turut dihadiri Pengarah Komersial Xpress Air, Swadono Poernomo dan Pengurus LTAM, Suhaimi Abdul Sani.

Mengulas lanjut, Lim berkata ketika ini LTAM mengendalikan penerbangan domestik dari Melaka ke Pulau Pinang dan penerbangan antarabangsa dari Melaka ke Pekanbaru dan Melaka ke Guangzhou, China yang dikendalikan Malindo Air, Xpress Air dan China Southern Airlines.

Beliau berkata selain destinasi utama itu, pelancong dari LTAM boleh menggunakan Xpress Air yang melakukan transit di tiga destinasi lain iaitu Palembang, Lampung dan Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia bagi laluan ke Pekanbaru.

Katanya, kerajaan Melaka menjangkakan pelancong atau penumpang yang menggunakan laluan udara di LTAM mencecah 100,000 orang tahun depan menerusi pembukaan laluan domestik dan antarabangsa baharu selain laluan sedia ada.

“Setakat Januari hingga hari ini, seramai 51,230 penumpang telah menggunakan LTAM sebagai laluan penerbangan ke destiansi yang ditawarkan.

“Penerbangan semula Xpress Air dari Pekanbaru ke Melaka mampu merancakkan sektor pelancongan perubatan di negeri ini memandangkan pelancong dari Indonesia adalah pelancong ketiga teramai ke Melaka,” katanya.

Beliau berkata laluan dari Pekanbaru ke Melaka yang dihentikan September lalu selepas mula beroperasi di LTAM pada 29 April tahun ini adalah disebabkan Xpress Air terpaksa melakukan beberapa rombakan perjalanan dan penambahbaikan perkhidmatan laluan mereka.

Sepanjang operasinya di LTAM, Xpress Air telah mengendalikan 160 penerbangan dari Pekanbaru-Melaka-Pekanbaru dengan membawa 3,360 penumpang.

Seramai 15 penumpang dari Pekanbaru tiba di LTAM kira-kira pukul 2.10 petang tadi menggunakan pesawat Dornier 328 yang boleh membawa 32 penumpang bagi penerbangan empat hari seminggu itu bermula hari ini, melibatkan perjalanan kira-kira 30 minit.

 

Sumber: Bernama | 20 November 2016

MAS to receive six new aircraft from Airbus beginning Q4 next year

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Bhd's (MAS) six new A350-900s aircraft, acquired on lease from Aircraft Lease Corporation (ALC), will be delivered between the fourth quarter of 2017 and second quarter of 2018.

MAS will operate the aircraft, powered by two Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, on its premium routes with a luxurious three class layout, Airbus said in a statement Thursday.

Airbus said the manufacture of parts for the aircraft had begun around the world, including at its Malaysia-based industrial partners, CTRM and Spirits Aerosystems, at plants in Malacca and Subang respectively.

"Airbus A350 XWB work undertaken at CTRM and Spirit Aerosystems currently includes the manufacture of components for wings and engine nacelles," it said.

The A350 XWB is the world's latest generation airliner and the newest member of Airbus' modern, comfortable and efficient widebody product family, featuring the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and 1`1` wings.

These latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs.

To date, Airbus has recorded 810 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 43 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

Source: Bernama | 17 November 2016

MAS bets on China, eyes IPO in 2019

Bellew:(Inset pic) ‘March 2019. Notwithstanding shocks, that’s our Olympic Games, that’s what we’re focused on at the moment.’ - Bloomberg" (Default Alternate Text: "Bellew: ‘March 2019. Notwithstanding shocks, that’s our Olympic Games, that’s what we’re focused on at the moment.’ - Bloomberg

SINGAPORE: Malaysia Airlines is betting on its first new routes in almost a decade and growth in China, where it wants to triple business over five years, to help it return to profitability in 2018 and list the year after, its chief executive said.

Peter Bellew, who took the reins at the Malaysian flag carrier in July, said the group was already losing less money than it had forecast and was on track to break even in the last quarter of 2017, with bookings for the coming months ahead of last year, despite a reduced fleet.

“We are in expansion mode,” he told a gathering at the CAPA Asia Summit 2016.

“March 2019. Notwithstanding shocks, that’s our Olympic Games, that’s what we’re focused on at the moment,” he said, referring to the group’s plans to be ready for a listing by 2019.

Key to its plans is China, where the airline has already said it would launch flights to eight new destinations and add 11 new routes between the two countries beginning in early 2017, betting on geographic proximity and linguistic ties.

“They say they don’t need low-cost carriers. They are looking for full-service carriers, with alliances,” he said.

Bellew, a former Ryanair executive, said he also saw a shakeout among low-cost airlines in the region, which is one of the most crowded and includes some of the toughest competitors globally.

Aircraft orders in Indonesia and Malaysia, he said, are now more than double current Chinese aircraft orders.

“There are going to be some big losers. There is going to be blood on the floor,” he said, declining to pick winners.

Malaysia Airlines has been battling to turn around its business since a disastrous 2014, which saw the disappearance of flight MH370, aviation’s greatest mystery, and the shooting down of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine.

The national carrier was subsequently taken private by state-fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd as part of a restructuring plan, which included a shrinking of its network.

Since then, the airline has cancelled all non-stop flights to Europe except those to London and ended several low-yield, Asia-Pacific services.

Bellew has also reorganised the group’s fleet, and reiterated yesterday that the group, through a new unit, would rent out its Airbus A380 superjumbos for Haj and Umrah pilgrimages - a move that could dispel recent gloom over demand for the huge jets.

Source: Reuters | 16 November 2016

Malaysia Airlines mulls purchase of 25 widebody jets next year

SINGAPORE: Malaysia Airlines Bhd is considering ordering as many as 25 widebody aircraft as the nation’s flag carrier, recovering from two fatal air crashes in 2014, looks to meet growing travel demand.

The airline will replace 15 of its ageing planes and add 10 to fuel growth, chief executive officer Peter Bellew said in an interview in Singapore on Tuesday.

It may look at Airbus Group SE’s A330s and A350s, and Boeing Co’s 787s, with a decision due by the middle to end of next year, he said.

“I am short of widebody aircraft,” said Bellew. Besides the current Kuala Lumpur-London flights, “we won’t do other long-haul routes until 2020, 2021 because the aircraft will be available at the right price, at the right time and at the right configuration.”

Bellew, who became Malaysia Airline's third chief executive officer in two years in July, is tasked with the job of restoring confidence in the carrier that lost two planes two years ago - one that vanished over the Indian Ocean and another that was shot down over Ukraine.

The airline is likely to become profitable in 2018 before it relists its shares in the first quarter of the following year, Bellew said.

Fully owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd after being taken private in 2014, Malaysia Airlines has cut long-haul flights and eliminated about 6,000 jobs as part of its restructuring.

After scrapping some European routes, it signed a code-share deal last year with Dubai-based Emirates for longer-haul destinations, eschewing its traditional model of linking Europe and Australia via South-East Asia. The Asian carrier flies to London from Kuala Lumpur using the Airbus A380s and plans to replace them with A350s in April 2018, Bellew said.

To claw back some of its lost business, Malaysia Airlines has been offering promotions on its business and economy cabins to lure passengers, Bellew said in a separate interview with Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin.

With round-trip tickets between Kuala Lumpur and London for as low as US$450, the airline now has a market share of about 60% on its London flights, compared with about 45% in May, Bellew said.

“The competition is very intense on direct routes to Europe,” Bellew said. “But I think there will be a place in the future for Malaysia Airlines to look at direct long haul services back to Europe.”

Malaysia Airlines ordered 25 Boeing 737 Max 8 jets, worth US$2.75 billion at list price in July with options for 25 more to compete against a slew of budget carriers in the region.

The carrier doesn’t have enough planes to meet the unprecedented opportunity in China, Bellew said. If 12% of the mainland Chinese get passports in 10 years, as per a government target, that would translate to 150 million more potential tourists flying to Malaysia, he said.

“The global mega trend in tourism is in China,” Bellew said. 

 

Source: Bloomberg | 15 November 2016

AirAsia hanya boleh pindah sebahagian operasi ke Terminal KLIA 1

Angkatan pesawat AirAsia di Terminal KLIA 2, Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).

SEPANG: Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB), pengendali Lapangan Terbang Antarangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) berkata, syarikat penerbangan AirAsia hanya boleh memindahkan sebahagian daripada operasinya ke Terminal KLIA 1 (KLIA 1) jika berhasrat untuk berbuat demikian.

Pengarah Urusan MAHB, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali berkata, AirAsia tidak boleh memindahkan keseluruhan operasinya ke KLIA 1 atas faktor kapasiti terminal berkenaan.

Menurutnya, AirAsia kini memiliki operasi yang besar, iaitu 80 kapal terbang dengan menerbangkan 28 juta penumpang setahun.

"Jadi untuk memindahkan semuanya, saya hanya jawab tidak boleh...namun kita akan mempertimbangkan permintaan sekiranya mereka mahu memindahkan sebahagian operasi mereka ke KLIA 1," katanya kepada media selepas Persidangan Tahunan Konsesi Ketujuh dianjurkan MAHB di sini, Khamis.

Syarikat penerbangan tambang murah AirAsia dilaporkan berhasrat memindahkan keseluruhan operasinya dari KLIA 2 ke KLIA 1 susulan pengumuman kadar baharu caj perkhidmatan penumpang (PSC) berkuat kuasa 1 Januari 2017.

Badlisham berkata, permintaan AirAsia untuk memindahkan operasi ke KLIA 1 sudah dikemukakan kepada pihaknya dan MAHB sedang mempertimbangkannya, namun ia terhad kepada ketersediaan dan keupayaan terminal itu.

Ketika ini, kira-kira 60 syarikat penerbangan beroperasi dari Terminal KLIA 1 dan 10 syarikat penerbangan di Terminal KLIA 2 (KLIA 2). 

"Ketika waktu puncak pada pukul 6 pagi hingga 10 pagi kami mengendalikan purata 115 penerbangan yang berlepas dan mendarat di KLIA 1 dan kapasiti KLIA 1 pada waktu puncak hampir penuh," katanya.

Badlisham berkata, MAHB mungkin boleh menawarkan AirAsia untuk beroperasi ketika waktu bukan puncak dan kekosongan beberapa slot pada waktu puncak.

Mengenai hasrat Malaysia Airlines untuk beroperasi di klia2, Badlisham berkata, MAHB akan mengadakan perjumpaan dengan syarikat penerbangan itu pada 24 November ini berkaitan perkara itu.

"Malaysia Airlines juga telah mengadakan lawatan ke klia2 dan melihat sendiri kemudahan dan perkhidmatan yang disediakan di sana," katanya.

Sumber: mStar Online | 10 November 2016

Impossible for AirAsia to move to KLIA 1 entirely, says MAHB

Terminal KLIA 2, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Group's and Malaysia Airlines Bhd's plans to move their entire operations to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 (KLIA 1) and Terminal 2 (KLIA 2) respectively have come to a halt due to limited capacity. 

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said it will be difficult for the two large carriers to move their operations entirely as the capacity within the airports, especially during peak period, is relatively full. 

"KLIA 2 is predominantly AirAsia. They are large carriers. My answer would be 'no' if they want to move entirely to KLIA 1. It is the same thing for Malaysia Airlines. 

"It will also be difficult for Malaysia Airlines to move to KLIA 2 although the airport capacity is still big because the airline still has international flights. 

They would not move efficiently," he told a press conference here today. "It also does not look good for Malaysia if the airport allows hybrid/low cost carriers to mix with first class/business class carriers. 

Those are the things that we have to discuss with the airlines," he added. Badlisham however said AirAsia can still operate in KLIA 1 but not entirely because the airport manager has to take into account the existing airlines operating at the airport. 

“KLIA 1’s capacity is already reaching its maximum now. AirAsia can only move during non-peak periods, for example from 10am to 12pm but during peak hours (6am to 10am), it would be impossible to accommodate AirAsia,” he said.

Source: New Straits Times | 10 November 2016

MAS spreads its wings in China with 19 new destination and routes

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) has announced new destinations and routes in China, marking its rapid expansion in the world’s most populous country and the globe’s second largest economy. 

The national airline will commence flying to eight destinations and 11 new routes in China from Kuala Lumpur (KL), Kota Kinabalu (KK) and Penang, beginning in early 2017. 

The new destinations are Haikou, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Tianjin and Shenzhen. The flights will constitute an additional 35 weekly flights between Malaysia and China. 

In addition, MAS will add a second daily flight between KL and Shanghai, subject to slots, in April 2017. 

MAS chief executive officer, Peter Bellew, said the airline plans to triple its Chinese business over the next five years. 

"I see potential for direct flights to 20 Chinese cities from KL, Penang, KK and Kuching by 2019. We have huge confidence in China. 

The improved connectivity will foster deeper business links between the two nations," he said in a statement today. 

MAS will also promote tourism in Malaysia and China through seasonal or ad-hoc services to key leisure markets such as Langkawi, Kuching and KK. The announcement of MAS' new flights was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Beijing today.

Source: New Straits Times | 4 November 2016

Malaysia Airlines launches rapid expansion into China

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines today launched a rapid expansion into China, which will see the flag carrier serving eight new destinations and 11 new routes with 35 additional frequencies between Malaysia and China beginning early 2017.

This was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is currently in China for a six-day official visit starting Monday. Najib said the new routes were to attract more Chinese tourists.

Following the announcement, Malaysia Airlines' Chief Executive Officer, Peter Bellew, in a separate statement, said the airline has huge confidence in China.

"Malaysia Airlines plans to triple our Chinese business over the next five years. I see potential for direct flights to 20 Chinese cities from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching by 2019," he said.

He said the improved connectivity will foster deeper business links between the two nations. Malaysians relished the business opportunities and tourism experience in China.

"The Chinese tourist market to Malaysia is growing rapidly due to the shared food, language and cultural connections," he said.

In addition to this initial growth, the airline would promote tourism in Malaysia and China through seasonal or ad-hoc services to key leisure markets such as Langkawi, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

"Six of our new Chinese cities have never been served directly by Malaysian Airlines," Bellew added.

Malaysia Airlines' new routes will be KL-Haikou, KL-Nanjing, KL-Fuzhou, KL-Wuhan, KL-Chengdu, KL-Chongqing, Kota Kinabalu-Tianjin, Penang-Shenzhen and Penang-Shanghai.

The airline will also add a second daily flight between Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai subject to slots in April 2017.

This follows the airline's recent announcement on the service upgrade to its morning Kuala Lumpur-Hong Kong sector from the Boeing 737 to the Airbus 330, he said.

Sumber: Bernama | 4 November 2016

Operasi penerbangan di LTSIP kembali pulih

Pesawat AirAsia yang tergelincir dari landasan di LTSIP.

KOTA BHARU: Operasi penerbangan di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Pengkalan Chepa kembali pulih dan berjalan seperti biasa hari ini, kata Pengurus LTSIP Ramzi Ahmad.

Operasi di lapangan terbang itu terjejas malam tadi selepas sebuah pesawat syarikat penerbangan AirAsia tergelincir dari landasan menyebabkan tayar pesawat terbenam ke dalam tanah.

Akibat kejadian itu, tiga penerbangan dari Kuala Lumpur dan Subang ke Kota Bharu terpaksa dibatalkan penerbangannya malam tadi bagi membolehkan kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan mengeluarkan tayar pesawat AirAsia itu dilakukan.

"Kerja penyelenggaraan itu tamat pada pukul 5.45 pagi tadi dan tiga pesawat yang dibatalkan penerbangannya pada malam tadi menyambung kembali penerbangan mereka pagi ini.

"Operasi LTSIP berjalan seperti biasa pagi ini selepas pesawat AirAsia itu berjaya dikeluarkan dari landasan dan ditempatkan di lapangan terbang ini untuk siasatan lanjut Jabatan Penerbangan Awam (DCA) dan AirAsia," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama di sini, hari ini.

Sebuah pesawat AirAsia yang hendak berlepas dari LTSIP ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), tergelincir dari landasan malam tadi.

Difahamkan, pesawat AK6443 itu membuat pusingan U di hujung landasan sebelum tergelincir, menyebabkan tayar depan dan belakang pesawat itu terbenam ke dalam tanah.

Seorang penumpang, Ghani Mohamad, 62, berkata beliau dikejutkan dengan gegaran kuat ketika pesawat itu sedang membuat pusingan U dan bersedia di landasan untuk berlepas ke Kuala Lumpur pada pukul 9.55 malam.

"Ketika itu bunyi sangat bising di dalam pesawat dan kami tidak tahu apa yang berlaku pada awalnya sehingga dimaklumkan mengenai kejadian oleh anak kapal kira-kira setengah jam kemudian.

"Rasa berdebar juga namun kakitangan pesawat berjaya menenangkan keadaan," katanya ketika ditemui di LTSIP di sini, menunggu penerbangan ke Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

 

Sumber: Bernama | 2 November 2016

Pesawat AirAsia tergelincir, ratusan penumpang terkandas di LTSIP

Keadaan pesawat AirAsia yang tergelincir di LTSIP.

KOTA BHARU: Ratusan penumpang terkandas di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), di sini susulan pesawat AirAsia tergelincir ketika dalam persediaan berlepas kira-kira 10 malam tadi.

Pesawat itu yang dalam perjalanan ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur tergelincir apabila tayar depan serta belakang kiri pesawat terbenam di dalam tanah di bahu landasan.

Difahamkan, tiga penerbangan ke Kota Bharu terpaksa berpatah balik termasuk satu penerbangan mendarat di Pulau Pinang, susulan insiden itu.

Sekurang-kurangnya dua penerbangan dari LTSIP terpaksa ditangguhkan hingga pagi ini.

Seorang penumpang yang mahu dikenali sebagai Fatimah, 30, berkata, dia tidak mengetahui kejadian berlaku sehingga krew penerbangan memaklumkan pesawat mengalami masalah teknikal.

"Ketika itu pramugari meminta kami bertenang saja, sehinggalah terpaksa menunggu lebih sejam dalam pesawat dan penumpang mula bising bertanyakan keadaan sebenar.

"Selepas itu, kami dimaklumkan pesawat tergelincir dan tidak lama kemudian kami dibenarkan keluar secara berperingkat menerusi pintu hadapan.

"Ada bas yang disediakan untuk ke terminal dan kakitangan mengurus soal penukaran jadual penerbangan," katanya yang menaiki pesawat itu bersama anak berusia dua tahun dan adik lelaki usia 21 tahun.

Fatimah yang juga seorang guru sekolah di Gombak memberitahu terpaksa meminta cuti kecemasan berikutan insiden berkenaan memandangkan penerbangannya ditangguhkan ke pagi ini.

Sementara itu, suasana di LTSIP setakat 1.30 pagi masih sibuk dengan beberapa penumpang terjejas menunggu bantuan ahli keluarga untuk pulang ke rumah masing-masing.

Difahamkan, syarikat penerbangan terbabit turut membantu menyediakan kemudahan hotel untuk penumpang memerlukan selain pengangkutan, sementara menunggu penerbangan berikutnya.

Sumber: Harian Metro | 02 November 2016