Airport upgrades can lift aviation industry
WIDER GROWTH: MAHB enhances infrastructure, promotes tourist arrivals
INVESTMENT in airport development nationwide is part of a bigger strategy to grow the country’s aviation industry.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said enhancements of airport infrastructure would allow the country to capitalise on aviation growth in Asia Pacific.
In a statement, he cited several infrastructure developments which MAHB had undertaken.
In the case of Penang International Airport, Badlisham said MAHB upgraded the airport in 2013 at a cost of RM250 million to increase the capacity to 6.5 million passengers per year from 3.5 million passengers previously.
Upgrading of the main terminal building and airside facilities also improved the airport’s operational efficiency and comfort level.
“The airport is now able to handle a peak of 2,000 passengers per hour, compared with 1,300 previously. Aircraft parking apron expansion also included three bays for turbo prop aircraft and a helipad.”
Badlisham said more counters was set up to allow for faster passenger throughput while the number of baggage carousels and inline baggage screening was increased to eliminate the need for baggage screening prior to check-in.
Floor space doubled from 24,000 sqm to 53,000 sqm, increasing the comfort level per passenger to 25 sqm from 11 sqm.
“More public seating and toilets was provided and that enhanced passenger convenience. Airport security was enhanced and there is now segregation between international and domestic passengers.”
Badlisham said the Penang airport could handle up to seven million passengers per year as there were slots available during non-peak hours.
Only seven of 15 aircraft stands are utilised during peak hours. As such, the airport will still be able to cater for the expected growth in the next three to four years.
MAHB is planning the construction of a nine-storey carpark to increase the number of bays to 3,500 from 800 now.
The airport operator also plans to build two more on-site detention tanks to contain flash floods.
“The first tank, completed in the middle of last year, had improved the situation as excess water can be drained out within 30 minutes during heavy rain.
“MABH had always put priority on supporting the national agenda to enhance aviation growth, not only in terms of providing the required airport infrastructure, facilities and services, but also in promoting tourist arrivals,” said Badlisham.
On the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, he said MAHB would invest RM10 million to reconfigure the immigration counters and install two passenger boarding bridges and an inline baggage screening machine.
It has also pledged RM10 million to intensify the promotion of Sabah to tourists from Northeast Asia.
The largest development project undertaken by MAHB is the RM4 billion Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2).
With a capacity of 45 million passengers per year, klia2 is poised to handle the future growth of low-cost carriers (LCCs).
It is also positioned to be the hub for the largest LCC in the region, AirAsia Bhd.
Other developments funded by MAHB on a smaller scale included the RM20 million expansion of the terminal transfer corridor in Kuching International Airport and the RM20 million aircraft parking apron expansion in Miri Airport to accommodate MASwings turbo prop aircraft, which was completed in 2014.
Another joint development was the Lang Merah VIP Complex at the Langkawi International Airport, built at a cost RM4.8 million, half of which was funded by MAHB.