MOVING TO TERMINAL 1 MAY COST MORE FOR PASSENGERS

Malaysia Airports Bhd (MAB) is ready to accept AirAsia if they move their flight operations to Terminal One of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

MAB general manager Zainol Mohd Isa said with the facilities provided at Terminal One, the low-cost carrier could fulfill all the needs of commercial flights and be able to provide better flight connectivity to their passengers.

“The decision on the matter now rests with the Transport Ministry. All I can say is, we have facilitated this airport with good infrastructure for any airline, including them (AirAsia). If they don’t want to move here, it is their choice and they still can operate from Terminal Two,” he said.

Zainol said this to the media during a press conference after launching of the safety, health and environment campaign at KKIA Terminal One yesterday.

Two months ago, AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said the airline was hesitant about moving out its operation from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 of KKIA because the operational costs would increase which would in turn force the reduction in the number of flights and ultimately causing Sabah to lose about one million tourists.

Meanwhile, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri had hoped that AirAsia would stick to their written undertaking conveyed to the Transport Ministry that they would move their flight operations to Terminal 1 of KKIA. Rahim said the transfer of AirAsia’s operations to Terminal 1 would provide better flight connectivity to their passengers.

The fate of terminal 2 after the move is not known at this time. It may be a good idea to retain it as an example what poor planning and being wasteful is all about.