Thursday 1 December 2011

Malaysia Airports sees 12pc growth

SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is projecting a 12 per cent growth or 37 million passenger movement this year from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT).

The bulk of the growth will come from the LCCT which will see about 15 per cent jump in passenger movement to 17 million as compared with KLIA, which is expecting between six and seven per cent growth or 20 million passengers this year.

“The good numbers are coming from LCCT as we see an increase in airlines frequency and demand for inbound and outbound destinations,” MAHB senior general manager Datuk Azmi Murad said yesterday.

Next year, he expects to see between six and eight per cent growth from both airports collectively as the LCCT introduces new destinations and KLIA expects to sign-up at least two new airlines.

Another positive indicator to the airport operator is Emirates Airline A380’s daily transit at KLIA beginning January next year.

Murad said the decision to cease Firefly’s operations next month will inevitably see a dip in KLIA passenger movement. Since January this year, Firefly has based its jets operations at the main terminal building, KLIA.

This year, the group aims to handle more than 60 million passengers at all its 39 airports in Malaysia. Its long term plan is to hit a 72 million passengers per year by 2014. Last year, MAHB handled a total of 57.8 million passengers in all
its airports.

For the third quarter ended September 30, its net profit jumped 74 per cent to RM108.2 million from a year ago, boosted by a RM22 million dividend income from a joint venture and positive contribution from associates overseas. Revenue climbed 4.7 per cent to RM652.8 million on rising passenger traffic.

Azmi, however, refused to comment on AirAsia chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ statement that the airline will refuse to use the aerobridge at KLIA2.

The outspoken CEO had taken to his social networking site to bash MAHB’s decision to include 80 aerobridges at KLIA2 and condemn the airport operator for a ballooning budget to construct the new LCCT.



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