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