AirAsia to stay put in LCCT due to KLIA2 defects

The AirAsia Group today said that they will stay put at the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT), which authorities intend to close by May 9 and force all budget carriers to relocate to KLIA2.

 

In a press release today, the company said they were unable to relocate due to unresolved "pressing issues", which have mostly to do with defects on the taxiway and runway.

 

"The recent Ikram Premier Consulting's findings on the readiness of KLIA2 has revealed that there are depressions on the taxiway, apron and runway which will necessitate periodic remedial measures to be undertaken on relevant areas.

 

"This will prove to be operationally disruptive to a hub airline such as AirAsia Group which has about 400 aircraft movements in a day and at least 70 aircraft in its fleet in LCCT.

 

"We believe it is crucial to ensure that whole remedial steps are undertaken prior to a transfer, which will mitigate risks relating to any potential aviation incidents," said the company.

KLIA2 is designed to meet growing demand for the services of budget carriers, but the opening of the new airport has been marred by five postponements since September 2011.

 

It is widely speculated that the land used for KLIA was unsuitable and the Department of Civil Aviation has publicly acknowledged that there were depressions and superficial cracks on the runway and taxiway.

 

Originally priced at RM1.6 billion, the cost of the airport has since increased to an estimated RM4 billion.

 

KLIA2 is owned by MAHB. Putrajaya's investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd hold a 40 percent controlling stake in MAHB, while the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) holds a 11.8 percent stake.