MAHB akan buka kaunter semakan imigresen di semua lapangan terbang

Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM), Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali (tiga dari kiri) bersama Pengarah Urusan Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Datuk Badlisham Ghazali (dua kiri) melihat pelancong dari China melakukan pemeriksaan cap jari di kuanter pemeriksaan Imigresen di KLIA, hari ini.

SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) akan membuka kaunter di semua lapangan terbang sebagai pemudahcara dalam menyelesaikan isu sekatan ke luar negara pada April ini.

Pengarah Urusan MAHB, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali berkata, usaha itu melibatkan kerjasama Jabatan Imigresen, Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) dan Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN).

“Ia berikutan kesesakan di kaunter imigresen berpunca daripada masalah sekatan ke luar negara di kaunter.

“Kita berharap langkah sebegini dapat menyelesaikan kesesakan di kaunter,” katanya dalam sidang akhbar khas di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) di sini hari ini yang turut dihadiri Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Imigresen, Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

Dalam pada itu, Mustafar berkata, masalah berhubung pagar automatik (autogate) di lapangan terbang telah diselesaikan dan proses penambahbaikan kemudahan berkenaan sedang giat dilakukan. 

 

Sumber: Utusan Online | 24 Feb. 2017

MAHB to invest hundreds of millions on upgrading works nationwide

SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) will invest hundreds of millions of ringgit this year to renovate and expand its airports nationwide.

Its Managing Director, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, said the works would involve toilets, car park areas and Muslim prayer rooms in view of the increase in the number of passengers.

"The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which is over 20 years old now, handles a wide range of passengers with a variety of expectations that are needed to be met by MAHB," he told reporters after company's 25th anniversary celebration here today.

He said KLIA, a hub now for passengers going to the Holy Land, would enlarge its mosque area to accommodate more Muslim passengers.

"Also, the parking quotas in KLIA for MAHB staff and premise owners will be reduced to allow more passengers to park the vehicles at the airport," he said.

Badlisham said MAHB planned to build a new satellite building to connect passengers from the main terminal.

"This is in preparation for the expected arrival of more passengers. We are handling over 35 million passengers yearly as opposed to the actual passenger capacity of KLIA of 27 million," he said.

He, however declined to say when the upgrading works would begin.

MAHB currently operates 38 airports in Malaysia, including 18 short take-off and landing ports and the International Airport Sabiha Gokcen in Turkey.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his Twitter page, has urged KLIA's management to maintain the cleanliness of public toilets at international standard levels.

"I have received a lot of complaints and this should not happening. We must always ensure that public facilities are always clean and comfortable for all to use," he said.

Source: Bernama | 14 Feb. 2017

Philippine Airlines flying into KLIA again

SEPANG: The Philippines’ national carrier is making a comeback to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), a move that will further push traffic growth at the airport. 

Last year, KLIA recorded more than seven per cent passenger growth. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the Philippine Airlines, which stopped flying to KLIA three years ago, would return to KLIA next week. 

Badlisham said this on the sidelines of MAHB’s 25th anniversary celebration, here, yesterday. Last week, MAHB had welcomed Nepal’s Himalaya Airlines, which started direct flights from Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur. 

Badlisham also said MAHB was actively engaging with foreign airlines to fly to KLIA and the target this year was to maintain up to six new carriers flying to the main terminal in Sepang. 

“We are talking to a bunch of new airlines, and yes, we think we will get about the same number (five to six) of new airlines,” he said. 

KLIA, according to Badlisham, was among the top 25 busiest airports in the world. Last year, KLIA surpassed the 50 million passenger per annum (MPPA) and grew by 7.6 per cent to nearly 53 MPPA. 

KLIA also registered double-digit growth of 15 per cent last month compared with the same period last year. Overall, MAHB handled nearly 89 million passenger traffic in all of its airports in Malaysia last year. 

Meanwhile, Badlisham said MAHB planned to spend over RM100 million for upgrading works at all of its 39 airports in the country. These airports include KLIA, Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (in Kota Bharu) and Langkawi International Airport. 

“There will be a lot of upgrades not only in the airside but also on the basic facilities.” “As you know, KLIA especially is almost 20 years old. It’s a bit dated in some of its facilities. 

The toilets will be one of the upgrades involved this year,” said Badlisham. MAHB closed nine sen, or 1.35 per cent, lower at RM6.60 yesterday.

Source: New Straits Times | 15 Feb. 2017

Najib: New KL ATCC will enable improved air traffic control facilities

Rapt attention: Najib being briefed by Azharuddin (third right) on KL ATCC during the ground breaking ceremony in KLIA, Sepang. With them are Liow (left), Ab Aziz (right) and managing director of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd Datuk Badlishah Ghazali (second right).

SEPANG: Malaysia’s aviation industry is set to soar with improved air traffic control facilities, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib said the new RM650mil Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (KL ATCC) – shaped like a soaring ‘wau bulan’ or the traditional Kelantanese “moon kite”– would be a major milestone for the industry.

When completed in 2019, the KL ATCC would start the restructuring of the Kuala Lumpur airspace, better known as the Kuala Lumpur Flight Information Region (FIR KL), he said.

“The restructuring of the FIR KL airspace would allow the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to operate three runways simultaneously, making it the only airport in the region with such capability,” said Najib, at the centre’s ground breaking ceremony here.

He pointed out the simultaneous operation would improve the airport’s capacity to handle 108 aircraft movements per hour compared to 78 now, making it one of the highest in the world.

“If the air traffic growth stays steady at 4.5% a year, the new airspace structure can help the aviation industry remain sustainable for the next 20 years,” he said.

Najib said the advance air traffic control infrastructure would boost efforts to make Malaysia a global aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

He said the transformation of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) into the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) would ensure the industry meets standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Najib also urged air traffic controllers not to compromise on safety and to provide efficient service.

“This job demands your top commitment and dedication. It is of utmost importance,” he said.

Present at the ceremony were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi and Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman.

At a press conference later, Liow said the increase in KLIA’s runway capacity would allow more airlines to get “premium slots” to fly in and out of the airport.

These premium slots – from about 10am until noon and from 6pm to 8pm are in demand by airlines compared to midnight or early morning arrivals or departures.

Liow said at present only two airports in the region – Beijing and Shanghai, in China – operate three runways simultaneously.

Source: The Star | Nation | 15 Feb. 2017

KL ATCC in Sepang to be landmark of country's civil aviation industry - Najib

SEPANG: The new Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (KL ATCC) at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), here, would be a new landmark in the country's civil aviation industry, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

At the ground-breaking ceremony for the RM650 million complex today, Najib said it would be another important milestone in the country's transformation programme, to improve the quality of public service delivery.

"If the air traffic services are managed properly and efficiently, it will definitely instil trust and confidence in the airline and air transport industry in Malaysia.

"It will prove that we do not compromise in ensuring the best service, in being efficient, and most importantly, on safety," he said.

The complex will house the air traffic control operations for the Kuala Lumpur Flight Information Region (KL FIR), becoming the backbone of the country's air traffic control, as well as the central coordination centre for the Department of Civil Aviation's (DCA) Search and Rescue (SAR) system.

Najib said the KL ATCC project would be the starting point to restructuring the KL FIR airspace when completed.

He said the restructuring exercise would make KLIA the only airport in the region to operate at the maximum level through three runways simultaneously.

"This simultaneous operation is targeted to increase the landing capacity at KLIA from 78 to 108 aircraft per hour, which is among the highest in the world," he said.

The increase, he said, could provide good returns to the country through continued development of the country's aviation industry.

Najib also announced that the DCA would be transformed into a statutory body known as the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), expected to be fully functional by mid-year.

The establishment of CAAM, he said, would ensure affairs involving Malaysia's civil aviation industry meet the safety standards and procedures recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

It would also give CAAM the freedom to organise and place qualified technical personnel to ensure Malaysia's obligation to ensuring safety of the country's civil aviation industry was in line with the aspirations of the ICAO.

Najib said Malaysia had set up the Malaysia Aviation Commission on March 1 last year, which was responsible for regulating the economic and commercial aspects of civil aviation in the country.

Also present at the ground-breaking ceremony of the complex scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2019, were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi and Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Seri Azaruddin Abdul Rahman.

At a press conference after the ceremony, Liow said the construction of the new KL ATTC would allow more aircraft to land during peak hours or premium slots.

"The premium slots are usually in the morning until noon, and evenings between 6pm and 8pm.

"The airports in some other countries give landing slots at midnight or early morning (to cope with the traffic) and this makes them not so competitive," he said.

According to Liow, only two airports in Asia, namely Beijing and Shanghai, China are capable of operating at the maximum level through the operation of three runways simultaneously.

He said the KL ATCC would also be an administrative centre and operations management office equipped with facilities such as a theatre, multipurpose hall, and lounge for the comfort of air traffic controllers, and at the same time ensure safe flights.

Earlier in his speech, Liow said a new satellite-based surveillance system, namely the Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) would be introduced, in line with the Aviation System Block Upgrade (ASBU) targets set by ICAO.

He said the system would help air traffic controllers to pinpoint the location of an aircraft much more accurately, allowing them to implement much more efficient use of airspace, besides enabling surveillance coverage at a much lower cost than the radar-based system.

"The system is also expected to improve the effectiveness of SAR missions to detect the location of aircraft," he added.

Source: Bernama | 14 Feb. 2017

PM pecah tanah projek KLATCC

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menyaksikan model KLATCC pada program pecah tanah di Sepang, hari ini.

SEPANG: Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini merasmikan Majlis Pecah Tanah Kompleks Pusat Kawalan Trafik Udara Kuala Lumpur (KLATCC), di sini.

Kompleks itu kelak bukan sahaja akan menempatkan operasi kawalan trafik udara bagi ruang udara Kuala Lumpur (KLFIR) tetapi akan menjadi tunjang utama bagi keseluruhan trafik udara di negara ini termasuk sebagai pusat sistem mencari dan menyelamat (SAR) bagi Jabatan Perbangan Awam (DCA).

Projek yang menelan belanja lebih RM650 juta itu akan mengtransformasikan hampir keseluruhan infrastruktur kawalan trafik udara bagi ruang udara KLFIR melibatkan aspek kemudahan sistem kawalan trafik udara dan dijadualkan beroprerasi sepenuhnya pada penghujung 2019.

Najib ketika berucap berkata, projek KLATCC itu bakal menjadi satu lagi mercu tanda penting dalam industri penerbangan awam negara.

Beliau berkata, ini sekali gus membentuk sebuah lagi lonjakan dalam transformasi negara yang sedang giat diperjuangkan melalui Program Transformasi Kerajaan (GTP) bagi meningkatkan mutu penyampaian perkhidmatan awam.

“Saya percaya dengan adanya infrastruktur kawalan trafik udara yang secanggih dan sehebat ini, ia mampu memberi manfaat yang lebih besar kepada industri penerbangan awam negara dalam usaha Malaysia untuk menjadi hab penerbangan global di rantau Asia Pasifik ini.

“Untuk itu, perlulah semua pihak berkepentingan mendukung hasrat yang sama dalam merealisasikan harapan kerajaan. Jelas sekali jika perkhidmatan trafik udara diuruskan dengan teratur dan efisien sudah pasti ia akan membuahkan rasa percaya dan yakin terhadap Industri penerbangan dan pengangkutan udara di Malaysia.

“Ia akan membuktikan bahawa kita tiada kompromi dalam memastikan perkhidmatan yang terbaik, cekap dan, paling penting, selamat,” katanya.

Sumber: Utusan Online | 14 Feb. 2017

Pemanjangan landasan LTSIP: Kenyataan Pengarah JPP Kelantan tidak tepat

Pemanjangan landasan LTSIP boleh dibuat di sebelah hujung landasan no. 28 (sebelah timur/kanan gambar).
Nota: Sila klik pada gambar untuk paparan yang lebih jelas. 

SUKACITANYA saya ingin merujuk laporan Berita Harian Online bertarikh 10 Februari 2017 dengan tajuk "Projek naik taraf LTSIP akhir tahun ini" terutamanya perenggan terakhir laporan berita tersebut seperti berikut:-

Bagaimanapun, katanya, pemanjangan landasan pesawat belum dapat dilaksanakan berikutan kawasan tanah LTSIP agak terhad. 

Pertama, laporan atau kenyataan Pengarah, Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan (JPP) Kelantan, Datuk Makhtar Mustapa tersebut amatlah tidak tepat. Hal ini kerana pemanjangan landasan boleh dibuat di sebelah hujung landasan no. 28 (sebelah timur) yang melibatkan kawasan rezab lapangan terbang yang cukup luas yang boleh 'tembus' sehingga ke Kelab Polo Kelantan di Kemumin, Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu, Kelantan. 

Rezab tanah lapangan terbang berkeluasan ratusan ekar tersebut telah diambil oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk projek pembesaran lapangan terbang termasuk pemanjangan landasan sejak tahun 1980-an lagi tetapi pemanjangan landasan tidak dilakukan sepenuhnya oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan. 

Kali terakhir landasan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra Kota Bharu (LTSIP) dipanjangkan adalah pada tahun 2010 - 2011 dengan memanjangkan landasan dari 1,981 meter kepada 2,400 meter untuk membolehkan pesawat jenis B737-800 milik Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS) menggunakan landasan lapangan terbang ini. 

Dengan rezab tanah lapangan terbang sedia ada tersebut, landasan LTSIP boleh dipanjangkan lagi daripada 2,400 meter kepada sekurang-kurangnya 3,500 meter, iaitu tambahan kira-kira 1,100 meter terbang tanpa melibatkan pengambilan tanah penduduk. 

Sehubungan dengan itu, Kerajaan Persekutuan mahupun Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan diminta tidak mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa kawasan tanah terhad untuk pemanjangan landasan tanpa menyelidik terlebih dahulu akan rezab tanah lapangan terbang yang boleh dibangunkan untuk pemanjangan landasan. Hal ini kerana ada exco Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan sendiri yang mengeluarkan kenyataan yang hampir sama setahun dua yang lepas. 

Oleh itu, Kerajaan Persekutuan diharap dapat memanjangkan landasan LTSIP daripada 2,400 meter kepada 3,500 meter bagi membolehkan lapangan terbang ini mengendalikan pesawat berbadan lebar seperti A330-300, B777-200ER, A350-900, dan B747-400 tanpa had muatan. 

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

AirAsia X terbang ke Honolulu melalui Osaka mulai 28 Jun ini

SYARIKAT penerbangan AirAsia X Berhad (AirAsia X) bakal membuka laluan baharu Kuala Lumpur - Honolulu malalui Osaka, Jepun mulai 28 Jun ini dengan kekerapan empat kali seminggu, iaitu setiap hari Isnin, Rabu, Jumaat, dan Sabtu. 

Penerbangan D7 1 dari Kuala Lumpur ke Honolulu, Hawaii dijadualkan berlepas dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA/KUL) pada jam 14:00 dan dijadualkan tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Honolulu (HNL) pada jam 12:30 (waktu Hawaii), manakala penerbangan D7 2 dari Honolulu ke Kuala Lumpur dijadualkan berlepas pada jam 16:00 (waktu Hawaii) dan dijadualkan tiba di KLIA pada jam 04:00. 

Penerbangan dari Kuala Lumpur ke Honolulu dan sebaliknya ini akan transit di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kansai (KIX), Osaka, Jepun selama dua jam. 

Pembukaan laluan penerbangan antarabangsa ini dijangka dapat mengukuhkan kedudukan Terminal KLIA 2 sebagai hab penerbangan tambang rendah (LCC) nombor satu Asia. Hal ini kerana penumpang dari Brunei Darussalam, Singapura, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Kemboja, dan Vietnam boleh mengambil penerbangan ke Honolulu melalui Kuala Lumpur. 

Selain AirAsia X, hanya syarikat penerbangan Philippines Airlines yang menawarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan ke Honolulu dari Manila di rantau ASEAN ini. 

Tempahan tiket laluan baharu ini mula dibuka mulai hari ini (11 Februari 2017) melalui laman sesawang www.airasia.com untuk penerbangan dari 28 Jun 2017 sehingga 6 Februari 2018.  

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

Projek naik taraf LTSIP dijangka bermula akhir tahun ini

KOTA BHARU: Projek menaik taraf infrastruktur Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP) di Pengkalan Chepa di sini, oleh Kerajaan Pusat dijangka bermula akhir tahun ini. 

Pengarah Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan (JPP) Kelantan, Datuk Makhtar Mustapa, berkata projek bernilai RM450 juta itu dijangka siap dalam tempoh tiga tahun. 

"Apabila siap, LTSIP mampu menampung lebih sekali ganda daripada permintaan penumpang ketika ini," katanya dalam sidang media selepas merasmikan mesyuarat agung Kelab Media Kelantan Darulnaim (KEMUDI) di sini, hari ini. 

Makhtar berkata, projek membabitkan pembesaran bangunan seperti ruang menunggu dan tempat letak kenderaan. 

"Kita akan menambah ruang tempat letak kenderaan daripada 300 parkir sekarang kepada 1,500 serta memperbesarkan ruang menunggu bagi keselesaan penumpang," katanya. 

Makhtar berkata, projek itu akan mengurangkan kesesakan terutama ketika musim perayaan. 

Bagaimanapun, katanya, pemanjangan landasan pesawat belum dapat dilaksanakan berikutan kawasan tanah LTSIP agak terhad.

Sumber: Berita Harian Online | Timur | 10 Feb. 2017