KLIA2 delay: AirAsia wants independent probe

The low-cost airline opined that “unless the true cause of the delay is made known” there may be more finger pointing against AirAsia or the contractors.

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd wants the government to set up an independent body to probe the much-delayed construction of the new low-cost airport, KLIA2.

Chief executive officer, Aireen Omar, said an independent body should evaluate three key points regarding the project — the current progress of the project, when can it be completed and how much is it going to cost?

“We believe that this is the fairest solution to ensure proper accountability for the project.

“Unless the true cause of the delay is made known, AirAsia feels there may be more finger pointing (against AirAsia or contractors) which will do nothing towards the completion of the project,” she said in a statement here.

Aireen also rubbished claims by certain quarters that the delay was only caused by AirAsia’s ‘indecisiveness’ on the baggage handling system (BHS) and aerobridges.

“The claim deflects the public’s attention from the magnitude of the KLIA2 project which has grown so exponentially from what was originally envisaged in 2009.

“The BHS and aerobridges are only smaller components and should not be the main factor in the delay,” she said.

In June 2011, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) had accused AirAsia, the main airline to use KLIA2, for the construction’s delay, due to the latter’s request to up passenger capacity to 45 million passengers per annum from 30 million previously.

The airport operator also said the low-cost airline declined to use aerobridges, citing high operating cost and also decided at the last minute to switch from a semi-automated BHS to one that was fully-automated.

The realignments had pushed back the completion date of the new terminal to April 2013.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had in January 2013 announced that KLIA2 will be launched on June 28, coinciding with the launch date of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in 1998.

Last month, Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB)  announced the airport’s fifth delay, with no new date given.

-Bernama