KLIA2: 'I'm really frustrated, MAHB should start taking responsibility' - Tony Fernandes

AirAsia group chief executive officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes is urging Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to find a solution over the latest claims that the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) is 'sinking'.

Tony today expressed his frustration and stated that the problem had been ignored for a long time despite being advised about it.

"I'm really frustrated because I spend so much time at this airport. MAHB should solve it. Enough making up excuses. Malaysia cannot keep sweeping things under the carpets.

"MAHB should fix it once and for all. The board, the CEO and the management has to be responsible. There is no safety issue at the moment, but let’s not for wait for one to happen.

"In my 15 years of experience, flying to hundred of airports, we never had an incident such as the one we had the other day. That was on the day of Hari Raya. The flight was delayed for 8 hours. So MAHB's board, CEO, management, need to start taking responsibility.

"I have been very public about it for a long time. Most of the people didn't support me, saying the airport is great and Tony is arrogant," said Tony to the media during the launch of Malaysia Education Blueprint Annual Report 2014 at Dewan Kompleks Seri Bintang, here, today.

Tony also tweeted his frustration with a picture of a plane which was delayed for eight hours due to plane slipping of chocks.
He said AirAsia had initially refused to move to KLIA2 claiming that the airport was plagued with defects on the taxiway and runway.

"We at AirAsia are evaluating all options; legal case is not out of the question. We are really, really upset because we said this. We didn't want to move. We said the airport wasn't ready and look what happened now. We cannot carry on like this.

"To be fair with the minister (Transport Minister, Liow Tiong Lai), he is trying really hard. He is the new minister that just came in and he asked for a meeting with us tomorrow to start set up an independent safety committee. So he is trying very hard but MAHB should take the responsibility. You cannot keep ignoring this.

"What really annoyed me today is what they (MAHB) commented on Bloomberg. That is really out of order, to say that this is expected. Show me an airport around the world where this is happening. Air Asia has done so much for this country. We need to be treated properly," he added.

KLIA2 officially began its operation on May 2 before witnessing the participation of AirAsia on May 7.

The airport is able to accommodate almost 45,000 passengers per day and 45 million passengers in a year.

It is built with the cost of RM4 billion with an area of 257,000 square metre with 6,000 parking bays.