AirAsia unveils plans for own airport outside Malaysian capital
AFP reports that budget carrier AirAsia on Thursday unveiled plans to shift to its own US$460m airport outside Kuala Lumpur and abandon its overcrowded terminal next to the main international hub. The move has thrown into doubt the national airport operator’s plans to build a new Low Cost Carrier Terminal next to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), to replace the existing facility that opened in 2006. “We believe in lowering our business costs. It is the key to our success,” AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes said. “The new airport, which will be known as KLIA East, will provide more capacity for aircraft and passengers and enable us to bring down fares,” he said, adding that costs could be cut by 30%. Fernandes rejected criticism that KLIA has more than enough capacity to handle AirAsia’s growth plans and that the sprawling city has no need for what would be its fourth airport. “I think we know what we need, we are not silly,” he said. “There is nothing here (at the old terminal) to add value to our passengers. Allow us to take our destiny in our own hands.”
AND: We say this could only be a good move for passengers as the current terminal couldn’t be more like a bus station on speed.
Prahok @ January 9, 2009