JOHARI: MAHB SHOULD CONSIDER MOVING MALINDO AIR TO KLIA2
This will ease KLIA congestion, says Johari
MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) should consider relocating budget airline Malindo Air to Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) to ease congestion at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
MAHB should also initiate collection of outstanding passenger service charges from airlines, including Malindo.
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said MAHB should insist budget carriers operate at klia2 as this was the most immediate step to ease congestion at KLIA, adding that the long-term solution was to expand KLIA, but it would take time.
Umno Youth had called for immediate action to move the operations of budget carrier Malindo Air back to Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2).
Its deputy chief, Senator Khairul Azwan Harun, said having the airline operate at klia2 would be in the best interest of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, which operates from KLIA.
“We want an immediate correction to be made to ensure that Malindo Air operations are allowed only at klia2 as Malindo Air is a low-cost carrier.
“In the best interest of Malaysia Airlines, we want Malindo Air not to operate from KLIA’s main terminal.”
He said the single largest shareholder of Malindo Air was Indonesian Rusdi Kirana.
“Rusdi and its (Malindo Air’s) chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy must respect and abide by the original spirit of the agreement as a low-cost airline and fulfil its obligations under prior arrangement.”
Malindo Air operates from KLIA and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, or Subang Airport.
Issues of flight operations and congestion at KLIA came under the spotlight recently after numerous complaints on how passengers had to endure long waiting to clear Customs and Immigration checks.
Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Dr Siew Ka Wei said the board was working with the Immigration Department and MAHB to resolve congestion and delays experienced by tourists.
“We look forward to a quick solution as the situation is critical.
“The coming months are peak holiday season for many markets. In addition, the Sea Games is just around the corner, and we are expecting to welcome some 15,000 athletes and officials, as well as supporters.”