"We'll see on that day," says Deputy Transport Minister on Air Asia's refusal to move

"I cannot comment first. We will see on that day," was all the Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said on AirAsia and AirAsia X's decision to continue operating at the present Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang even after May 9.

The LCCT will cease operations on May 9, with the government moving all relevant agencies such as the Immigration and Customs to the spanking new airport, KLIA2.

AirAsia had said that it was not moving to the new RM4 billion-odd airport until certain conditions are met.

The budget carrier is expected to be called up soon by a parliamentary panel which wants to hear its views on KLIA2.

"We will see on that day," Abdul Aziz responded briefly to reporters on the sidelines of the Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition 2014 hosted by the Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

The reporters had asked the deputy minister on how the ministry was going to act over AirAsia's refusal to move to the new airport before May 9.

AirAsia Bhd chief executive officer Aireen Omar had said yesterday that although AirAsia and AirAsia X were prepared to move to the new airport, the transfer would only be done after all the issues were addressed.

She said the Ikram Premier Consultings' findings on the readiness of KLIA2 showed there were depressions on the taxiway, apron and runway which would necessitate periodic remedial measures to be undertaken on the relevant areas.

Aireen said this in response to Abdul Aziz's earlier announcement that the LCCT would be closed by May 9 to facilitate the opening of the KLIA2.

In another development, MAHB senior general manager (Operations Services) Datuk Azmi Murad said that the KLIA2 would operate according to schedule.

Asked whether AirAsia would have enough time for the operational readiness and airport transfer (ORAT), he said: "We will see." Aireen had said earlier that the ORAT period to support the size of AirAsia's operations would substantially be more than two months as requested by MAHB as the group has about 400 aircraft movements in a day and at least 70 aircraft in its fleet at LCCT.

"The ORAT from the KLIA main terminal to LCCT in 2006 took longer than two months when AirAsia's operations were significantly smaller then," she added.