'Passenger traffic to hit 103m this year'

Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali at MAHB’s Business Update & 2018 Outlook in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) expects overall passenger traffic in the country to reach 103 million this year, compared with 96.5 million last year.

Its managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the airport operator anticipated more foreign airlines to launch direct flights to destinations in Malaysia other than the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

He said more international airlines would likely bypass KLIA and choose to fly directly into Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi.

This would, in turn, impact domestic flights from KLIA to other international airports within Malaysia.

However, Badlisham said it would contribute positively to international traffic growth this year.

Passenger traffic growth this year would be spurred by MAHB’s expansion plans, including automation, refurbishment and upgrade works throughout its network of airports.

“Passenger traffic growth is expected to be robust, with additional seat offerings from airlines and short-term upswing from the 14th General Election expected early this year,” he said at MAHB’s Business Update & 2018 Outlook, here, yesterday.

Badlisham said international traffic was expected to grow more than domestic traffic, attributed to new routes and aircraft this year.

“More airlines will launch long-haul flights to new destinations in Europe and relaunch their previous international routes.

“The airlines will also receive more efficient aircraft, making it possible for them to launch new routes and add more frequencies,” he said.

On the potential strategic investors for Istanbul Sabiha Gokchen (ISG) International Airport, Badlisham said 10 players were interested to become its partner.

“When you do business, it is always good to have partners, be it local or foreign partners. We think there is a significant value in ISG. It is an on-going progress,” he said.

However, Badlisham said MAHB would likely maintain the majority ownership in ISG in the short term, adding that MAHB had built significant value in ISG.

“We have made investments for the boarding hall. The second runway is coming on stream. The potential for growth is assured as ISG is strategically located between Europe and Asia,” he said, adding that MAHB expected ISG to be profitable in the financial year ending December 31.

Source: New Straits Times Online | 6 January 2018

MAHB introduces towing zones in KLIA to avoid traffic congestion, ensure road safety

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), together with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), has introduced towing zones alongside roads to and from the terminal buildings at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), including the terminal curbside area.

In a statement today, KLIA head of operations, Mohd Arif Jaafar said such a measure was necessary to ensure vehicles would not obstruct the roads and create traffic congestion.

"It is also to ensure road safety as vehicles parked on the road shoulder present a traffic hazard to passing motorists," he said.

He said KLIA had ample parking spaces with more than 11,000 parking lots available at both terminals, with a 15-minute free pass through.

"There are a further 5,500 parking lots available at the Long Term Car Park (LTCP) that is just a short 10-minute ride to the terminals on the free shuttle service provided by Malaysia Airports. The shuttle service runs every 10 minutes.

"On top of that, we have even provided a waiting area with additional 400 parking lots beside the LTCP. This waiting area is also free of charge," he added.

Arif urged the public to be more mindful of their safety and also more considerate in not contributing to traffic congestion.

Motorists who commit these traffic offences would have to pay a fine of RM300, he said.

Source: Bernama | 29 December 2017

AirAsia launches flight connecting Singapore and Bintulu, Malaysia

Flights between Bintulu and Singapore will operate four times a week. (Photo: AirAsia)

SINGAPORE: Low-cost airline AirAsia launched its inaugural flight between Singapore and Bintulu in Sarawak, Malaysia on Wednesday (Dec 27).

With a flight time of one hour and 50 minutes, the route is part of efforts to boost connectivity and drive trade and tourism between Singapore and East Malaysia, said AirAsia in a press release.

Flights will operate four times a week.

"AirAsia is always committed to expanding connectivity to Singapore and these direct flights reiterate our commitment to grow the connectivity in and out of the country," said Mr Spencer Lee, head of commercial at AirAsia.

"We hope the introduction of this new route will bring more visitors into Singapore next year, and this is only made possible by the continuous support rendered by Singapore’s Government and Sarawak Tourism Board."

The maiden flight, which departed Singapore at 9.10am and landed in Bintulu Airport at 11am, was received by officials including Bintulu Member of Parliament Tiong King Sing and Mr Lee Kim Shin, Sarawak's Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Source: Channel NewsAsia | 27 December 2017

Categorise airports until price differentiation mechanism is ready - Firefly

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should segregate domestic airports into different categories until the price differentiation mechanism, which will classify local airports, is ready for implementation, said Firefly Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Ignatius Ong.

“They (The Malaysian Aviation Commission) are looking at a systematic (measure) which should have price differentiation between airports, (however) they did say it’s going to take two years to trace (the details of each airport)... they need to do it faster,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Firefly’s corporate social responsibility programme here today.

Ong was commenting on AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’s reaction on the lack of voices from the industry protesting against the move to impose hike in the passenger service charge, which is scheduled to be implemented next month.

The premium short-haul airline today hosted the “Firefly and Tesco Christmas Treats with Single Mothers and Kids” programme with Tesco Stores (M) Sdn Bhd, whereby they reached out to 70 single mothers from the Selangor Single Mothers Association in Kuala Selangor.

Ong also stressed that the segregation of airports should take place during the two-year interim period before the price differentiation mechanism comes on board.

Looking from the Subang Airport perspective, he said the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and KLIA 2 are two humongous shopping complexes with complete facilities, which included not only aerobridges but also essential facilities such as toilets and facilities for the disabled.

Meanwhile, when asked on the outlook for 2018, Ong said the company had achieved its target of 1.7 million passengers between January and November this year and the company was looking at maintaining the same figure for next year.

“(Achieved) 1.7 million passengers so far, and we expect bigger movements in December due to the school break, holidays and so on,” he added.

On expansion, Ong said the industry was facing overcapacity issue, thus growing the carrier’s aircraft fleet size was not an option.

“Our load factor stood at between 69 per cent and 70 per cent, which means, there is a 30 per cent empty seats to be filled...we will focus on that (improving load factor) before embarking on a decision to improve the current fleet, which now stands at 12 aircraft.

“Normally, an airline would look into expansion when they hit between 78 per cent and 80 per cent load factor,” he added.

Source: Bernama | 19 December 2017

AirAsia tidak jadi operasi dari Lapangan Terbang Melaka?

LAPORAN media utama pada bulan Mei dan Julai 2017 lepas melaporkan bahawa syarikat penerbangan AirAsia bakal beroperasi dari Lapangan Terbang Melaka (LTM) di Batu Berendam, Melaka mulai Oktober atau November (2017) yang lepas. 

Laporan tersebut antara lain mengatakan bahawa AirAsia akan menawarkan beberapa laluan domestik dan antarabangsa dari lapangan terbang ini. 

Namun begitu, setelah memasuki bulan Disember 2017, ramai yang menyedari bahawa rancangan tersebut tidak menjadi kenyataan dan menimbulkan pelbagai persoalan. 

Antaranya, pihak AirAsia tidak pernah mengumumkan bahawa mereka akan beroperasi dari lapangan terbang itu tetapi hanya Ketua Menteri Melaka atau exco kerajaan negeri sahaja yang mengeluarkan kenyataan tersebut. Jadi, adakah kenyataan Ketua Menteri Melaka atau exco kerajaan negeri tersebut boleh diterima pakai? 

Sebarang pengumuman sepatutnya berdasarkan maklumat yang sahih atau sesuatu yang benar-benar dapat dilaksanakan. 'Insiden' seperti ini bukanlah kali pertama melibatkan lapangan terbang ini. 

Setakat ini, hanya dua buah syarikat penerbangan yang beroperasi dari LTM, iaitu Malindo Air dan XpressAir yang menawarkan penerbangan dari Bandar Raya Melaka ke Pulau Pinang dan Pekanbaru. Malindo Air diharap dapat membuka beberapa laluan lagi dari LTM terutamanya laluan Bandar Raya Melaka - Kota Bharu. 

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

Lapangan terbang baharu akan dibina di daerah Perak Tengah, Perak

IPOH: Kementerian Pengangkutan sudah menerima cadangan Kerajaan Negeri Perak untuk membangunkan sebuah lapangan terbang baharu di daerah Perak Tengah.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kesihatan, Pengangkutan Awam, Hal Ehwal Bukan Islam, Integrasi Nasional dan Kampung Baharu negeri, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, berkata projek itu akan dilaksanakan di Gerbang Perindustrian Cempaka Sari (GPCS) di Mukim Bota dan Lambor Kanan.

Projek itu di tanah kerajaan seluas 4,176.7 hektar, akan dilaksanakan oleh Malaysian Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRCB).

Dr Mah berkata, pihaknya mendapat maklum balas kementerian berhubung cadangan pembinaan lapangan terbang baharu menerusi satu surat bertarikh 24 Oktober lalu.

"Surat itu antara lain menyatakan kementerian sudah mengadakan satu mesyuarat bersama Suruhanjaya Penerbangan Malaysia, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, MRCB, kerajaan negeri serta beberapa agensi di bawahnya, pada 8 Mei lalu.

"Dalam mesyuarat itu, MRCB memaklumkan pembinaan lapangan terbang di GPCS adalah berkonsepkan zon perdagangan bebas, hab pengangkutan, terminal kargo bersepadu, pintu masuk antarabangsa dan zon pembangunan ekonomi, pendidikan dan perumahan," katanya dalam sidang media di luar persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri di sini, hari ini.

Tambah Dr Mah, mesyuarat turut memutuskan supaya MRCB melaksanakan satu kajian kebolehlaksanaan bagi menilai cadangan itu dan melantik KMPG sebuah syarikat juruperunding bagi menyiapkan laporan akhir.

"Setelah laporan akhir ditamatkan ia akan dibentangkan dalam Majlis Ekonomi Negara yang dipengerusikan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak," katanya.

Sehubungan itu, Dr Mah yang juga Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Chenderiang menafikan dakwaan pembangkang bahawa lapangan terbang baharu itu tidak akan dibina.

"Apa yang dipetik dan dinyatakan ADUN Kepayang, Nga Kor Ming pada sesi bahas (Bajet Perak 2018) adalah satu kenyataan yang diputar belit," katanya.

Katanya, kementerian bersama kerajaan negeri akan mengadakan satu lagi mesyuarat pada Selasa depan bagi membincangkan lebih lanjut berhubung pembinaan lapangan terbang baharu berkenaan.

"Pihak kerajaan negeri memang serius dan mengutamakan pembangunan lapangan terbang. Pihak kementerian bukan mengambil cadangan syarikat swasta (MRCB) sewenang-wenangnya tetapi ia melalui kerajaan negeri," katanya.

Sumber: Bernama | 24 November 2017

AirAsia launches Bintulu - Singapore route with free seats

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd, the world’s best low-cost airline for nine times in a row, has launched its first international route from Bintulu, Sarawak to Singapore, commencing on December 27, 2017 with four times weekly direct flights.

In a statement here, the airline said the introduction of the new unique route was in line with its continuous expansion plan in Sarawak.

“Besides adding two new routes to the state, namely Kuching-Shenzhen and Bintulu-Singapore, the airline is also increasing flight frequencies between key routes — Kuching - Miri to 29 times weekly, Kuching - Singapore to 16 times weekly, and Miri - Singapore to seven times weekly,” it said.

To celebrate the launch, AirAsia is offering free seats from Bintulu to Singapore which is available for booking from now to November 12, 2017 on airasia.com and AirAsia’s mobile app for iPhone and Android devices, for the travel period between December 27, 2017 and November 21, 2018.

“The new route and added flight frequencies continue to strengthen our position in Sabah/Sarawak and further reaffirm our commitment to develop Sarawak, consistent with our current plan for the state,” said Head of Commercial, Spencer Lee.

AirAsia now flies to three destinations from Bintulu — Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching — with a total of 39 weekly flights one way.

Effective November 7, 2017, AirAsia will relocate operations at Singapore Changi Airport from Terminal 1 to the new state-of-the-art, fully-automated Terminal 4 to embrace the Fast and Seamless Travel initiative.

 

Source: Bernama | 4 November 2017