Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) expects its revenue from the operations of KL International Airport (KLIA) and Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) to grow in tandem with the rising number of passengers passing through both airports this year, said operations senior general manager Datuk Azmi Murad.
He said MAHB was expecting 25.7 million passengers to travel through KLIA and LCCT this year. The airports last year handled more than 24.1 million passengers.
“We are expecting 7.4 million passengers to use the LCCT this year due to the rapid growth of low-fare travel worldwide.
“A total 4.7 million passengers used LCCT last year,” Azmi said after a ceremony to mark the LCCT's first anniversary yesterday.
He said the LCCT's operation from March till December 2006 contributed about 8.4%, or RM50.8mil, to KLIA's revenue.
For the first two months of 2007, about 1.1 million passengers used the LCCT.
MAHB manages and operates five international airports, 16 domestic and 18 short take-off and landing ports in the country.
Chairman Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman said MAHB anticipated a natural increase in passenger throughput in the months ahead due to the Visit Malaysia Year campaign and aggressive promotions by airlines.
“I am pleased to see other airlines such as Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia and Cebu Pacific using this terminal (LCCT). We plan to expand the LCCT to accommodate Airasia X's long haul operations.
“An expansion is required to accommodate Airasia X's use of wide-body aircraft for its operations. We will also build a food court and more parking bays,” Aris said.
He added that MAHB would have ample time to upgrade the terminal, as Airasia X would only start its services next September.
“It would be a major expansion for the LCCT as it will be able to accommodate up to 15 million passengers annually from the current 10 million,” Aris said.
He said MAHB might have to look for a new site if the LCCT reached the expanded maximum capacity.
Aris said MAHB was now in the final stage of discussion with the Government on the expansion of the LCCT. He declined to disclose the expansion cost.
“The decision to build and finance the expansion plan rests with the Government,” he said.
Source : STAR
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