KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke today said that the redevelopment of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (LTSAAS) in Subang, Selangor will not replace Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
There is “no way” LTSAAS could replace KLIA due to its size and passenger capacity, online news portal Free Malaysia Today reported him as saying.
“Subang is meant to be a premium city airport. That is a market niche we’re hoping to build.
“It’s more to attract business passengers and will include a hub for private jets,” he was quoted as saying at the launch of the MYAirline student discount programme at KLIA earlier today.
He said the plan to transform LTSAAS will focus on business flights and regional commercial flight operations, among other commercial flights.
There are multiple policies that the government has to help transform LTSAAS into a premium city airport, he added.
“Firstly, we will limit the types of aircraft. Then, we will limit the type of destinations, and finally, in terms of which particular airport and which slot to be given, all that is within the control of the government through airport authorities,” he was quoted as saying.
He went on to describe the plans to restructure the Malaysian aviation industry so that it would not only be just an operator but also a hub for maintenance and repairs.
“And it’s not just about the airport. We also want to build a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub in Subang so the aviation industry (in Malaysia) can grow to not just being an operator but also a hub for maintenance and repairs,” he said.
He added that should such plans come to fruition it would generate many high-income jobs for Malaysians.
In March, Loke revealed plans to return jet services to LTSAAS, in order to market it as an option for premium and business classes for the business community.
The previous week, at the tabling of the new Budget 2023, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that LTSAAS, along with the Penang International Airport, would be upgraded to support and attract the influx of investors, businessmen and tourists.
