MAHB has given almost everything AirAsia asked for at KLIA2

MAHB Senior General Manager (Operations Services) Datuk Azmi Murad, said that the low-cost carrier -- which has expressed reservations about moving to KLIA2 and citing several concerns including security -- is set to be the biggest gainer by operating from the new airport.

The few things On AirAsia's wishlist that MAHB could not grant was the request for a spa and a museum, he told Bernama in an interview.

With flight operations at KLIA2 beginning on May 2, and the current low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) to close on May 9, there were no two ways about it but for AirAsia to move and operate from the new airport, he said.

Azmi said that the transfer to KLIA2 has been agreed to by all parties, including the Department of Immigration, the Royal Malaysian Customs, the police and the health authorities.

AirAsia, Asia's biggest low-cost carrier, is expected to utilise 80 percent of the new low-cost airport located in Sepang.

Last Wednesday, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi announced that the LCCT would be closed on May 9, but AirAsia, citing dissatisfaction, said it would not agree to transfer to the new airport unless some of its concerns were addressed.

The issues cited by the carrier included KLIA's functionality, safety and security.

Azmi said that MAHB has run the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT), which is a trial to stimulate functionality and operational aspects, since early February and said that "we are very satisfied."

Costing RM4 billion, he said KLIA2, which would handle about 45 million passengers a year and certified by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), is "not a low-cost terminal, but the airlines that utilise it are low-cost."

On the concerns raised by AirAsia over the security at KLIA2, Azmi said the KLIA2 was more secured than the current LCCT as it would implement a commonly-used passenger processing system by SITA -- the world's leading service-provider of integrated IT business solutions.

He said it was AirAsia, which refused to use the SITA system, commonly used by airport operators and preferred by all airlines, as it was insisting on using the manual check-in system.

"We cannot compare KLIA2 with what is being used to operate at LCCT, as the the current low cost terminal is a totally manual airport, where airport management is done in a traditional manner.

"But given the voluminous passenger capacity expected to be handled by KLIA2, it is just impossible to operate manually like before," he said, adding that the SITA system provided convenience in terms of business continuity and flexibility for the counters in KLIA2.

Regarding the aerobridges which AirAsia contended were a waste of money, Azmi said aerobridges were important for passengers -- especially those who were physically challenged, senior citizens, and mothers with infants and small children.

It would also extremely useful during bad weather conditions such as heavy rain or when there is sweltering heat, he said.

He said the current charges to the airline for the use of the aerobridge stands at RM85 per usage. Based on a full A320 aircraft carrying 180 passengers for both arriving and departing flights, the cost of using the aerobridge works out to be less than 25 sen per passenger.

This makes MAHB's charges for the aerobridge among the lowest in the region, he further explained.

He said MAHB has continually received numerous feedback from the public requesting all airlines to use aerobridges in order not to inconvenience the passengers.