SEPANG, June 25 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said klia2 Terminal (klia2) is another flagship international gateway to the nation, with the capacity to support projected air travel growth for at least the next 10 to 15 year.
He said the mega terminal was enable to handle up to 45 million passengers per year, three times more than the previous Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)’s capacity.
“Based on the passenger traffic projection for this year, klia2 will see about 25 million passengers passing through the terminal by year’s end in far greater comfort than was ever possible at the old LCCT,” he said at the official launch of klia2 here yesterday.
klia2 began commercial operations on May 2 this year and since then has successfully handled more than three million passenger movements and 24,000
aircraft movements.
klia2 is able to handle 45 million passengers per year – three times more than the previous LCCT’s capacity. Najib said over the last decade, the low-cost air travel sector in Malaysia had consistently recorded double digit growth every year.
He said the robust growth was expected to continue on this trajectory given the demand and competition dynamics in the sector. “The low cost carrier business models have also evolved in line with market needs that include hybrid and premium offering as well as transfer and transit connectivity,” he said.
Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said the terminal played a critical role as part of the KLA system to realise the potential to be the region’s leading aviation hub. Under the National Airport Master Plan (NAMP), he said the government had laid out a strategic development road map to provide for the growth in air
travel demand across the nation over the next 50 years.
He said the aviation industry was one of the focus areas in the 2014 National Budget, in which RM1 billion had been allocated. Out of the total allocation, he said, RM700 million would be spent for the development of new air traffic management centre at KLIA to facilitate an increase in air traffic from 68 to 108 movements per hour on the three runways now that KLIA had the world’s highest capacity for air traffic management.
He said another RM300 million was allocated for upgrading airports nationwide to allow Malaysia to be more competitive in offering capacity for the
local and regional growth of aviation.
“At the same time it enables us to continue enhancing the level of comfort and convenience for all travellers,” he said, adding that the industry would serve as the main contributor to the tourism industry.
Given the declaration of 2014 as ‘Visit Malaysia Year’ and 2015 as the “Year of Festivals” to attract more tourists into the country, Najib said the readiness of klia2 as another flagship international gateway to the nation would be vital in supporting these campaigns.
Last year, Malaysia recorded a total of 25.72 million tourist arrivals with total receipts of RM65.44 billion. During the launch, klia2 was also officially inducted into the Malaysia Book of Records for the “Biggest Purpose Built Terminal for Low Cost Carriers & First Airport Terminal Sky Bridge”.
The certificate was presented to the Chairman of Malaysia Airports Tan Sri Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah by Founder and Managing Director Malaysia Book of Records, Tan Sri Danny Ooi.
Later, Najib also launched gateway@klia2, the landside mall located between the drop-off point and the main terminal at klia2 Terminal. He also officially launched the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit service to klia2 besides the Sama-sama express- Terminal Airside Transit Hotel, located in the international departure area.
Also present were prime minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Acting Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Communication and
Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shaberry Cheek, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports (MAHB) Datuk Badlisham Ghazali and MAHB advisor Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad.
– BERNAMA
