Singapore's Scoot to fly to Kuching and Kuantan by early 2018

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s low-cost airline Scoot, which successfully merged with Tigerair Singapore this month, will fly to Kuantan, Pahang and Kuching, Sarawak by the the first quarter of next year.

The medium- to long-haul arm of the Singapore Airlines Group will service the Kuching route seven times a week by end-October this year; and Kuantan three times weekly by the first quarter of 2018.

Scoot is also maintaining the four routes previously serviced by Tigerair in Malaysia – Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang – using the Airbus A320.

"Competition is just part of the business… with any carrier… whether in Malaysia or other routes, we have to face it. We have to compete," said Scoot's chief executive officer Lee Lik Hsin on the competition Scoot will face from local low-cost airlines like AirAsia.

Asked on why Kuantan and Kuching were chosen, Lee said: “Why not? We are very encouraged by our expansion in Malaysia. We see more opportunities in Malaysia."

On whether Scoot will expand its route network in Malaysia, he said: "It depends on how well we do on the new routes. "We have a good base line there."

Honolulu, Hawaii; Harbin, China; and Palembang, Indonesia are the other three routes introduced by Scoot today.

Coupled with Tigerair’s network, the five new services will bring Scoot's total destination count to 65 in 18 countries.

The airline reached a milestone carrying over 50 million guests since it started operations in 2012, and now operates a fleet of 14 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 23 Airbus A320, with six more Dreamliners and 39 A320neo aircraft on order.

The new route launches come nine months after Scoot and Tigerair announced their intention to pursue a single brand and operating licence under the enhanced Scoot brand. 

Source: Bernama | 25 July 2017

Scoot perkenal laluan ke Kuantan dan Kuching dari Singapura

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Scoot, Lee Lik Hsin (tengah) bersama krew kabin yang digelar Scootees menggayakan uniform baharu susulan peggabungan Scoot dan Tigerair.

SINGAPURA: Scoot, syarikat penerbangan tambang rendah Singapura yang bergabung secara rasmi dengan Tigerair hari ini memperkenalkan lima laluan baharu termasuk ke Kuantan, Pahang dan Kuching, Sarawak.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Scoot, Lee Lik Hsin berkata, penambahan dua destinasi itu akan menjadikan jumlah destinasi ke Malaysia kepada enam selepas Ipoh, Perak; Langkawi, Kedah; Kuala Lumpur dan Pulau Pinang.

Katanya, tiga lagi laluan baharu adalah Palembang, Indonesia; Harbin, China dan satu laluan perjalanan jarak jauh ke Honolulu, Amerika Syarikat,

"Lima laluan baharu ini dijangka bermula operasi selewat-lewatnya akhir 2017 bagi laluan ke Harbin, Honolulu dan Kuching sementara Kuantan dan Palembang (awal 2018).

"Menerusi penggabungan ini, Scoot kini menawarkan penerbangan ke 65 destinasi meliputi 18 negara," katanya pada majlis pelancaran lima destinasi baharu di sini hari ini. 

Sumber: Utusan Online | Bisnes | 25 Julai 2017

Scoot mahu tambah jumlah pesawat

Lee Lik Hsin (tengah) bersama krew kabin Scoot sempena majlis pelancaran destinasi baharu syarikat penerbangan itu di Singapura.

SINGAPURA: Syarikat penerbangan kos rendah Scoot mahu menambah bilangan pesawat daripada 37 kepada 74 buah dalam tempoh lima tahun akan datang khususnya model Airbus A320.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Scoot, Lee Lik Hsin berkata, pertambahan pesawat itu seiring dengan proses penggabungan Scoot dan Tigerair di bawah syarikat pega­ngan yang sama, Budget Aviation Holdings yang telah dimuktamadkan hari ini.

Mulai hari ini, semua penerbangan Tigerair akan dikendalikan di bawah jenama Scoot dan penerbangan Scoot akan berope­rasi di bawah kod tanda penerbangan TR.

“Scoot telah menerbangkan lebih 50 juta pelanggan ke destinasi masing-masing dan kini mengendalikan 14 pesawat Boeing 787 Dreamliner badan lebar dan 23 pesawat angkatan Airbus A320 yang baharu dan moden, dengan enam lagi Boeing 787 Dreamliner dan 39 pesawat Airbus A320neo dalam tempahan.

“Scoot menjangkakan untuk menerima dua lagi pesawat menjelang akhir 2017 dan kira-kira empat pesawat dalam tempoh dua tahun,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis pelancaran lima destinasi baharu di sini hari ini.

Yang turut hadir Ketua Pegawai Komersial Scoot, Leslie Thng dan Ketua Pegawai Operasi Scoot, Ho Yuen Sang.

Terdahulu, Scoot memper­kenalkan lima destinasi baharu termasuk ke Kuantan, Pahang; Kuching, Sarawak; Palembang, Indonesia; Harbin, China dan perjalanan jarak jauh ke Honolulu, Amerika Syarikat.

Lik Hsin berkata, pemilihan Kuantan dan Kuching berikutan tarikan unik negeri berkenaan sekali gus menjadikan jumlah destinasi ke Malaysia kepada enam selepas Ipoh, Perak; Langkawi, Kedah; Kuala Lumpur dan Pulau Pinang.

“Laluan baharu ini termasuk Harbin, Honolulu dan Kuching, dijangka memulakan operasi selewat-lewatnya akhir 2017, sementara Kuantan dan Palembang (awal 2018).

“Scoot kini menawarkan penerbangan ke 65 destinasi meliputi 18 negara,” katanya yang tidak menolak kemungkinan untuk menambah destinasi lain di Malaysia.

Sembilan bulan lalu, Scoot dan Tigerair mengumumkan hasrat untuk menjadi jenama tunggal dan beroperasi di bawah lesen menggunakan jenama Scoot yang diperkukuhkan.

Industri penerbangan mengucapkan ‘selamat tinggal’ kepada Tigerair dengan penerbangan terakhir dari Singapura ke Tiruchirappalli, India pada 11.05 malam, semalam.

Dalam majlis sama, Scoot turut memperkenalkan pakaian seragam baharu buat anak kapalnya yang lebih mesra digelar Scootees berserta pertukaran slogan baharu iaitu Escape the Ordinary.

Sumber: Utusan Online | Luar Negara | 25 Julai 2017 | Terbitan 26 Julai 2017

KLIA main terminal at design and consultancy stage, expansion plan next

Terminal KLIA 1, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, Selangor.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said the main terminal of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is currently undergoing the design and consultancy stage, before proceeding with its expansion plan.

MAHB managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the cost of the design is “sizeable” because it is a running airport. The good news, he added, is that there is space to do the expansion.

“We initially launched the tender on the design and consultancy portion of the expansion. After that is done, then we will know the exact amount for the budget,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Invest Malaysia 2017 in Kuala Lumpur today.

He added there are plans to consider expanding the contact pier and the airport operator would only know the expansion budget once the final design phase is completed.

“We do not have to reconfigure other existing operations to cater for the expansion. The question is whether we want to go full-blown or start in phases. These are things that we will come to a decision on when the report comes out,” he said.

Badlisham noted that MAHB is not in a hurry as there is a remote parking opportunity that can be done.

“We do not need any capital expenditure (capex). It is just about scheduling. Airlines would like to know our long-term plan. Even if we commit to physical expansion, it would take a couple of years,” he said.

Badlisham said although there are many designs configurations, the whole master plan at KLIA currently accommodates about 75 million passengers per annum, which would allow it to increase up to 150 million and beyond, almost double.

“The contact pier depends on how far we want to extend the configuration but we estimate it will give us an additional up to five to six million passengers to the current. If the configuration comes with the remote parking then we can certainly do a lot more,” he said.

Source: New Straits Times | 26 July 2017

Malaysia Airlines' London Airbus A350 flights start January 2018

MALAYSIA AIRLINES plans to bring forward the start of its Airbus A350 flights to London to January 2018, but is putting expansion to other European cities on hold.

The Oneworld member now expects to take delivery of its first two Airbus A350s in November and December 2017, which will provide sufficient aircraft to take over the daily Kuala Lumpur-London Airbus A380 flights MH3/MH4 by mid-January 2018.

Australian Business Traveller understands that two more A350s will arrive by March 2018, at which time the flagship MH1/MH2 flight would also be swapped from the double-decker superjumbo to the fuel-efficient A350.

Malaysia Airlines will then have its Airbus A380s stripped back to an "ultra-high capacity" configuration (read: almost entirely economy class) and handed over to a new offshoot aimed at serving the bustling Muslim market for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

However, Malaysia Airlines is revising earlier plans to use the final two members of its six-strong A350 fleet – now slated for delivery by June 2018 – to re-open flights to Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt, routes which the airline shuttered in 2015-2016.

Airline CEO Peter Bellew previously axed plans to send the A350 to Auckland, and ruled out other destinations such as Australia and Tokyo, saying "it’s an expensive aircraft and we have to find something meaty and significant to do with it. We hope to find something more than nine hours."

It's believed that no European destination other than London would provide the high traffic which Malaysia Airlines requires for its A350s, which will come with ongoing leasing payments rather than being bought outright.

The Airbus A350s will sport a small first class cabin of just four seats using the Vantage XL design (below) from Ireland's Thompson Aero Seating, which also provided the platform for Qantas Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 business class.

Source: Australian Business Traveller | 21 July 2017

Firefly perkenal penerbangan sambungan dari Kota Bharu ke Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Langkawi & Singapura melalui Subang

Selain perkhidmatan penerbangan terus dari Kota Bharu ke Subang (Kuala Lumpur) dan Pulau Pinang, Firefly kini juga menawarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan sambungan dari Kota Bharu ke Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Langkawi, dan Singapura melalui Subang.

SYARIKAT penerbangan Firefly kini memperkenalkan perkhidmatan penerbangan sambungan dari Kota Bharu ke Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Langkawi dan Singapura melalui Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (LTSAAS) di Subang, Shah Alam, Selangor. 

Perkhidmatan penerbangan sambungan ini melibatkan jualan tiket secara tunggal ke empat destinasi ini tanpa perlu membuat beberapa tempahan tiket dalam satu-satu masa walaupun ia melibatkan penerbangan sambungan atau trasit. 

Firefly adalah sebuah syarikat penerbangan yang menawarkan perkhidmatan dari satu destinasi ke satu destinasi (point-to-point carrier) yang tidak menyediakan perkhidmatan penerbangan secara langsung ke destinasi terakhir yang dibeli. Oleh itu, para penumpang perlu mendaftar keluar dari penerbangan pertama tersebut dan mengambil bagasi terlebih dahulu, sebelum mendaftar masuk semula untuk penerbangan yang seterusnya. 

Sebagai contoh, penumpang dari Kota Bharu ke Alor Setar melalui Subang perlu mendaftar masuk di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Kota Bharu seperti biasa dan apabila tiba di LTSAAS, penumpang tersebut perlu mengambil bagasi di tempat tuntutan bagasi dan mendaftar masuk bagasi sekali lagi di kaunter daftar daftar masuk bagasi di LTSAAS untuk penerbangan ke Alor Setar. Jika tidak ada bagasi yang perlu didaftar masuk, mereka hanya perlu memasuki semula balai perlepasan melalui pintu masuk yang sah untuk penerbangan yang seterusnya. 

Sekiranya penumpang terlepas penerbangan kedua disebabkan kelewatan penerbangan pertama, pihak Firefly akan menukar waktu atau tarikh penerbangan kedua tersebut secara percuma kepada penerbangan yang seterusnya (tertakluk kepada terma) dengan syarat penerbangan kedua tersebut juga dengan Firefly. Jarak masa setiap penerbangan melebihi minimum dua jam dan ke atas. 

Untuk maklumat lanjut dan tempahan tiket, sila layari laman sesawang www.fireflyz.com.my atau e-melkan kepada customer_care@fireflyz.com.my untuk penjelasan lanjut tentang perkhidmatan penerbangan sambungan ini. 

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

AirAsia bakal perkenal laluan Kota Bharu - Bandar Raya Melaka

SYARIKAT penerbangan AirAsia bakal memperkenalkan satu lagi laluan domestik dari Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), Kota Bharu, Kelantan, iaitu ke Bandar Raya Melaka pada suku keempat tahun ini.  

Menurut Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengangkutan, Pemulihan Projek, dan Perdagangan Antarabangsa Negeri Melaka, AirAsia bakal memperkenalkan beberapa laluan domestik dan antarabangsa dari Lapangan Terbang Melaka (LTM) di Batu Berendam, Melaka mulai Oktober atau November ini termasuk satu laluan domestik ke Kota Bharu, Kelantan untuk kemudahan rakyat Melaka. 

Laporan Bernama bertarikh 20 November 2016 melaporkan bahawa syarikat penerbangan Malindo Air dijangka menyambung semula laluan penerbangan Kota Bharu - Bandar Raya Melaka yang digantung sejak Oktober 2015 pada tahun ini. Namun begitu, rancangan tersebut tidak menjadi kenyataan dan pengumuman terbaharu daripada exco Kerajaan Negeri Melaka ini pastinya mengembirakan bukan sahaja dalam kalangan rakyat Melaka tetapi juga rakyat Kelantan dan Terengganu yang boleh memanfaatkan kemudahan penerbangan terus ini nanti.

Laluan Kota Bharu - Bandar Raya Melaka ini dijangkakan beroperasi dengan kekerapan tiga kali seminggu, iaitu setiap hari Selasa, Khamis, dan Sabtu. Penerbangan terus ini juga dijangka menggunakan pesawat yang didatangkan dari LTSIP ke LTM terlebih dahulu dan sebaliknya. 

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

AirAsia to introduce more domestic, international flights from Melaka

AirAsia Berhad will be introducing more domestic and international destinations for from the Melaka Airport by October this year.

MELAKA: AirAsia Bhd will be introducing more domestic and international destinations for from the Melaka Airport by October this year.

State Transport, Project Rehabilitation and International Trade committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong said the international destinations include Jakarta in Indonesia, and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

"We will see the expansion of domestic flights to provide better transportation alternatives for the locals here by having flights to Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi," he said.

Lim said this was the result of a successful meeting between AirAsia's chief executive officer Aireen Omar and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron on Monday.

"We believe that the expansion of flight destinations can be achieved in three months' time, beginning with Jakarta and other Southeast Asia destinations.

"This is a good indication. AirAsia sees our potential with Vietnamese listed as among the top five tourists in Melaka," he said.

Presently, Melaka has direct flight destinations to Pekanbaru, Penang and Guangzhou via xpressair, Malindo Air and China Southern Airlines.

Source: New Straits Times | Nation | 20 July 2017

Government revives proposal to build new runway in Pulau Tioman

ROMPIN: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will revive the proposal to build a new runway at Kampung Genting, Pulau Tioman in efforts to place the island on par with other world famous resort islands.

The Prime Minister said the proposal, that was axed in 2009, would be reconsidered in more detail with several new improvements to avoid harming the environment, including marine life.

"Our original proposal is to build this new runway in Kampung Genting with a portion of it on land and another portion at sea. This proposal will be revived to allow the Boeing 737 aircraft to land in Pulau Tioman," he said at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering at Dataran Tiong, Kampung Tekek, Pulau Tioman here today.

He said, if the proposed project is to be implemented, the development landscape in Pulau Tioman could transform radically.

"A follow-up on it may take some time but a decision has been made. We will appoint a consultant before the project is implemented," he said.

The event was also attended by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Urban Webeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar, his deputy Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique and Tioman state assemblyman Datuk Mohd Johari Hussain.

The announcement on the construction of the new runway is another one of the special gifts being given by the government during the Prime Minister's half-a-day working visit to Pulau Tioman today.

Earlier Najib also officiated at the opening of the 310-metre long boardwalk that connects Kampung Tekek with Kampung Air Batang costing RM1.6 million besides launching the 116-unit Tekek Makmur People's Housing Project (PPR), worth RM46.7 million, with 92 per cent subsidy provision.

Najib said according to a Cable News Network report, Pulau Tioman is one of the most beautiful islands while Pantai Juara is among 21 most beautiful beaches in the world.

"Previously the tourist arrivals have yet to reach the maximum level and, if possible, we want to attract more high class tourists with high purchasing power.

"Their presence will give a huge injection to the economy of Pulau Tioman and we will also provide a master plan for this island to ensure development is well organised for the better future of this island," he said.

At the function, Najib also announced an allocation of RM10 million for the maintenance and repair of the jetties at Kampung Tekek, Kampung Paya, Kampung Lukut and Kampung Juara besides the construction of the new Kampung Salang jetty.

"The government has also approved an allocation of RM34 million for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the water supply in Kampung Tekek and Kampung Air Batang besides requesting the menteri besar (Adnan) to look into the beautification of a better organised Pulau Tioman," he added.

Source: Bernama | 20 July 2017

Landasan kapal terbang baharu bakal dibina di Tioman

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak beramah mesra bersama pelancong dalam Majlis Jamuan Aidilfitri di Dataran Tiong, Pulau Tioman hari ini.

ROMPIN: Rancangan pembinaan landasan kapal terbang baharu di Kampung Genting, Pulau Tioman di sini bakal menjadi kenyataan sebagai usaha membangunkan lagi pulau peranginan itu.

Berita gembira itu diumumkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ketika berucap pada Jamuan Hari Raya Aidilfitri Bersama Rakyat di Dataran Tiong, Pulau Tioman hari ini.

Menurut Najib, cadangan pembinaan tersebut pernah dikemukakan pada 2009 dengan perancangan awal lokasinya membabitkan sebahagian di laut dan di darat.

“Apa yang penting, pembinaan tersebut dilaksanakan secara lestari dan tidak menjejaskan alam sekitar di samping memberi manfaat serta limpahan rezeki kepada penduduk,” katanya.

Sumber: Utusan Online | Nasional | 20 Julai 2017

Ibraco subsidiary awarded RM303mil airport project

KUALA LUMPUR: Ibraco Bhd’s subsidiary, Ibraco Construction Sdn Bhd, has received a letter of acceptance (LOA) from the Public Works Department, Kuching to construct and complete a new airport in Mukah, Sarawak for RM302.63mil.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia yesterday, the company said the project would commence upon site possession and be completed within 36 months from the date of commencement.

“The risks associated with the project are normal operational risks which shall be mitigated through internal controls and good governance in operating procedures.

“The project, to be funded via internally generated funds and external borrowing, is expected to contribute positively to the earnings and net assets of Ibraco for the duration of the project.

“It will not have any effect on the share capital and substantial shareholders’ shareholdings of the Ibraco Group,” it added. 

 

Source: Bernama | 18 July 2017

AirAsia tambah kekerapan penerbangan Aidiladha

KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat penerbangan tambang murah AirAsia Bhd. (AirAsia) mengumumkan penambahan kekerapan bagi penerbangan dari Kuala Lumpur ke Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Johor Bahru dan Alor Setar untuk memenuhi permintaan sempena sambutan Hari Raya Aidiladha akan datang.

Ketua Komersial AirAsia, Spencer Lee berkata, penerbangan ke Kota Bharu akan ditambah daripada 75 ke 89 penerbangan sehala seminggu, manakala ke Kuala Terengganu akan bertambah daripada 47 ke 54 penerbangan sehala seminggu, dan penerbangan ke Alor Setar akan bertambah daripada 33 ke 40 penerbangan sehala seminggu untuk tempoh perjalanan dari 26 Ogos 2017 hingga 3 September 2017.

Katanya, bagi penerbangan ke Johor Bahru pula ia akan bertambah daripada 38 ke 41 penerbangan sehala seminggu untuk tempoh perjalanan dari 29 Ogos hingga 12 September 2017.

“Kami berbesar hati untuk menyediakan penerbangan tambahan bagi Hari Raya Aidiladha akan datang, supaya para tetamu boleh merancang perjalanan balik kampung mereka lebih awal dengan lebih banyak pilihan penerbangan, serta dapat menikmati rangkaian luas kami di Malaysia termasuklah laluan baharu seperti Langkawi-Kuching, Langkawi-Johor Bahru, Johor-Bahru-Kuala Terengganu, Johor Bahru-Tawau, dan banyak lagi.

“AirAsia juga akan terus berusaha untuk menambah hab-hab domestik untuk menyediakan kemudahan kepada para tetamu dan kami berharap laluan baharu yang diperkenalkan serta kekerapan penerbangan tambahan akan melancarkan perjalanan tetamu kami,” katanya dalam kenyataan di sini hari ini.

Tambahnya, sempena musim perayaan akan datang, AirAsia turut menawarkan 20 peratus diskaun untuk semua tempat duduk, semua penerbangan bermula sekarang hingga 16 Julai 2017 untuk tempoh perjalanan dari 17 Julai 2017 hingga 23 November 2017.

“Tempahan boleh dibuat melalui airasia.com, aplikasi AirAsia untuk peranti mudah alih dan AirAsiaGo. Ahli-ahli AirAsia BIG juga boleh menebus penerbangan melalui kempen ini dengan mata ganjaran AirAsia BIG mereka,” katanya.

Menurut Lee lagi, para penumpang AirAsia dinasihatkan untuk tiba di lapangan terbang 3 jam sebelum waktu berlepas dan daftar-masuk sendiri melalui laman web, laman atau aplikasi mudah alih, atau kiosk perkhidmatan untuk mengelakkan kesesakan.

Sumber: Utusan Online | 13 Julai 2017

New routes to help Malaysia Airlines turn around next year

The expansion of selected new routes throughout this year till 2019 will be a significant step forward for Malaysia Airlines.

SEPANG: The expansion of new routes to China, India and North Asia, which is expected to happen in the second half of financial year ending Dec 31, 2018, would be the key to the turnaround story of Malaysian Airlines Bhd (MAB), said chief executive officer Peter Bellew.

Bellew said MAB was making good progress in its restructuring and the airline just needed another few percentage upside on the yield to be into profit.

“Our recovery plan is half-way through. In fact, we can say we are little bit ahead (of schedule). And it’s all about revenue and cost control.

“Taking the right routes, improving the sales and marketing and by increasing the load factors, we should increase the revenue. Next year, we are expected to be able to break even across some of the quarters, start making profit and to show consistent profit in the following year,” Bellew told reporters on the sidelines of Malaysia Aviation Group’s Hari Raya celebration in Sepang on Monday.

The group comprises its ground-handling unit, AeroDarat Services Sdn Bhd and MAB’s units - –MASWings Sdn Bhd, Firefly Sdn Bhd and MASkargo Sdn Bhd.

Bellew said expansion of selected new routes throughout this year till 2019 would be a significant step forward for the airline, capitalising on a booming population, increasing middle class and incredible growing economies of China, India, as well as in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

“We are quite optimistic our fleets would increase a little bit next year and we should improve products on board as well, and overall, would result in beneficial impact to the airline,” he said.

MAB was reportedly half-way through its US$1.39bil (RM6bil) restructuring exercise which is likely to be completed in five years.

The exercise was put into place in 2015 during the time of Bellew’s predecessor, Christoph Mueller.

Bellew took over as MAS CEO on July 1, 2016, after Mueller left citing personal reasons.

The second phase of the MAB’s restructuring, according to Bellew, involved adding new routes, including 11 routes to China. It launched new routes to Nanjing and Fuzhou last month.

The coming routes include Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Tianjin, Shenzhen and Shanghai from Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, while the expansion of other new routes are also being considered.

Source: Bernama | 10 July 2017

Senai International Airport upgrade 80 percent completed

JOHOR BAHRU: The RM7-million upgrading works on the Senai International Airport (LTAS) which began last October are expected to be completed by the end of August this year.

Chairman of the Johor Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the upgrading works would focus mainly on security aspects and the convenience of the users whose numbers were increasing each year.

He added that to date, the upgrading works were 80 percent completed.

"This is to meet the requirements of the regulation to separate domestic and international passengers during departure and arrival. This is because the airport does not currently separate domestic and international passengers and does not meet safety standards.

"The upgrading works are necessary to meet the increase in the number of passengers resulting from new destinations and increased frequency of flights over the last few years," Tee told reporters after a working visit to the LTAS here today.

The airport currently provides flight services to 11 domestic and five international destinations, with 610 flights each week.

He added that for the second quarter of this year, the number of tourists showed a positive development with 1.54 million people, an increase of 9.5 percent compared to 1.36 million for the same period last year.

He said this figure is expected to increase with the possible introduction of more international destinations.

"I am confident that with the upgrading, the landscape of the tourism industry in Johor will be at a positive level, and I encourage industry players, especially tour agents to transform their businesses," he said.

Source: Bernama | 6 July 2017

Naik taraf LTAS siap Ogos, dijangka mampu tarik lebih ramai pengguna

Tee Siew Kiong bersama Md. Derick Basir (tiga dari kiri) dan Mohd. Shukri Mohd. Masbah (dua dari kanan) ketika melawat kerja-kerja menaiktaraf di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Senai, Johor Bahru, semalam.

JOHOR BAHRU: Kerja-kerja menaik taraf Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Senai (LTAS) yang dijangka siap pada Ogos ini diyakini mampu menarik lebih ramai pelanggan akan menggunakan perkhidmatan di situ.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pe­lancongan, Perdagangan dan Kepenggunaan negeri, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong berkata, lapa­ngan terbang tersebut mula dinaik taraf pada Oktober tahun lalu dengan kos RM7 juta.

Menurutnya, fokus utama ker­ja menaik taraf yang kini sudah 80 peratus siap adalah untuk meningkatkan aspek ke­selamatan selain memberi ke­selesaan kepada pengguna lapangan terbang itu yang semakin mening­kat.

“Selepas kerja menaik taraf ini siap kelak, saya mempunyai keyakinan yang besar kepada landskap industri pelancongan di Johor yang kini semakin berada pada platform positif, sekali gus mampu menarik lebih ramai pelancong ke negeri ini,” katanya selepas melawat LTAS, di sini hari ini.

Yang turut hadir Ketua Pegawai Esksekutif Terminal Lapangan Terbang Senai Sdn. Bhd., Md. Derick Basir dan Pengarah Tourism Johor, Mohd. Shukri Mohd. Masbah.

Siew Kiong berkata, dengan kerja naik taraf berkenaan, jumlah kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) akan ditambah sebanyak 74 buah selain skrin paparan maklumat penerbangan juga ditambah 44 skrin.

Menurutnya, sistem penga­singan penumpang penerbangan domestik dan antarabangsa juga akan dilakukan bagi meme­nuhi piawaian keselamatan sedia ada berikutan peningkat jumlah pengguna.

“LTAS pada masa ini menerima 610 penerbangan dari 11 destinasi domestik dan lima antarabangsa dalam tempoh seminggu dan kita menjangkakan jumlah itu akan terus meningkat dengan perancangan untuk menambah penerbangan antarabangsa tidak lama lagi,” katanya.

Justeru, beliau mengalu­­ ­a­lukan pemain industri terutamanya agensi pelancongan untuk bersiap sedia mengambil peluang tersebut sekali gus mentransformasikan perniagaan mereka bagi menarik lebih ramai pelancong ke Johor.

Sumber: Utusan Malaysia | Wilayah - Johor | 6 Julai 2017 |Terbitan 7 Julai 2017