LCCT project may start this year

By Johnson Kadam

KUCHING: AirAsia Berhad may start building its multi-million ringgit low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) here sometime this year.

Its Manager (East Malaysia and Brunei), Shanmugamnathan Suppiah, said the proposed LCCT had been put on hold thus far due mainly to the unexpected surge in the price of gas and petroleum globally last year.

“AirAsia had planned to construct one LCCT here and the Chief Minister had given his blessings, but when the price of petrol shot up the proposal had to be put on hold.

“However, now that the price has gone down, surely we will be able to review our previous plans and proposals. If the present price stays, I strongly believe that the project will be able to start this year,” he said.

He said this to reporters after the announcement on the reinstatement of the Kuching-Macau, Kota Kinabalu-Macau and Kota Kinabalu-Sibu (new scheduled flight) by Urban Development and Tourism Minister, Datuk Michael Manyin here yesterday.

For the time being, he added, the proposal was still under discussion at the top management level.

Shanmugamnathan pointed out that the construction of a LCCT involved going through lots of processes and red tapes.

Meanwhile, to another question, Shanmugamnathan said that AirAsia would consider reinstating the suspended Kuching-Bali flight if there was a proposal and demand for it.

“Whatever is being proposed by the public, definitely AirAsia will look into it seriously and due consideration will be given,” he said.

He explained that the Bali-Kuching flight was suspended because of unavoidable circumstances.

LCCT Kuching diteruskan
Oleh Patricia Gari

Ia tetap dibina walaupun dunia ketika ini berdepan krisis ekonomi, kata Shanmugamnathan

KUCHING: Pembinaan Terminal Penerbangan Tambang Murah (LCCT) di Kuching akan diteruskan walaupun dunia ketika ini berdepan krisis ekonomi.

Pengurus Wilayah Malaysia Timur (Sabah dan Sarawak) dan Brunei, AirAsia Berhad Shanmugamnathan Suppiah berkata projek pembinaan LCCT itu masih di peringkat rundingan.

Beliau dalam pada itu yakin projek pembinaan LCCT di Kuching dapat dimulakan tahun ini sekiranya kekal rendah seperti sekarang.

“Memang dalam pelan kita untuk membina sebuah LCCT di Kuching dan projek ini telah dipersetujui Ketua Menteri (Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud). Namun ia masih di peringkat rundingan dan keputusannya belum ditentukan lagi.

“Saya difahamkan rundingan ini hampir di peringkat akhir… rata-rata pelan dan strategi yang dirancang oleh mana-mana syarikat sebelum ini dikemukakan selepas harga minyak di pasaran dunia naik, tetapi baru-baru ini harga minyak turun,” katanya dalam sidang media di sini, semalam.

“Rata-rata syarikat yang terjejas akibat kenaikan harga minyak dunia termasuk AirAsia perlu melihat kembali kerugian dialami.

“Oleh itu pelan atau kertas kerja ini perlu dikaji semula kosnya, begitu juga dengan projek LCCT yang kita rancang bina di Kuching,” tambah Shanmugamnathan.

Terdahulu beliau menghadiri majlis pelancaran simbolik penerbangan semula Kuching-Macau dan laluan domestik baru Sibu-Kota Kinabalu yang disempurnakan Menteri Pembangunan Bandar dan Pelancongan Datuk Micheal Manyin.

AirAsia memperkenalkan penerbangan terus Kuching-Macau pada 19 Novemner 2007, bagaimanapun perkhidmatan itu terpaksa dihentikan pada 26 Oktober 2008 atas sebab-sebab tidak dapat dielakkan.

Mengulas lanjut pembinaan projek LCCT di Kuching, Shanmugamnathan berkata pembinaan LCCT melibatkan banyak pihak berkuasa dan pelbagai kelulusan termasuk kajian lebih mendalam.

“Kita juga sedang membina LCCT di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) dan sudah tentu keutamaan kepada projek ini… bagi projek di Kuching kita masih belum menerima sebarang kata putus.

“Sebaik sahaja kita mendapat ‘lampu hijau’ daripada pihak atasan AirAsia, kita akan melangkah ke peringkat seterusnya,” jelas Shanmugamnathan.

Sementara itu Manyin yang hadir sama dalam sidang media itu berkata pembinaan LCCT di Kuching akan memberi manfaat kepada Sarawak khasnya sektor pelancongan kerana ia bakal berfungi seba-gai hub tambang murah di rantau ini (Sabah dan Sarawak).

Hard to believe.Hope it will be approved faster :cheers:

:eek: nice one! Another LCCT Airasia! Do post the renderings of the project if have:)

AirAsia Gets Land Offer To Build LCCT In Kuching

KUCHING, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak government is offering a piece of land, adjacent to the Kuching International Airport, to AirAsia Bhd to build a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT), said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan.

He said the establishment of the LCCT will not only draw more air travellers to the state but also boost the state's tourism industry and double revenue.

"The state government has offered land to AirAsia to set up a LCCT here. Now, AirAsia just need's to build the terminal.

"They (AirAsia and state government) are talking seriously," said Dr Chan, who is also the state's Tourism and Heritage Minister, in an interview with Bernama today.

AirAsia, the region's largest low cost carrier, planned to build a low cost carrier at the Kuching International Airport to turn Sarawak into a low-cost air travel hub with extensive domestic and international connections.

The justification to set up a LCCT in Sarawak was because the airport tax of RM51 imposed at KIA was considered too high by travellers.

Dr Chan urged Malaysia Airport Berhad to seriously consider reducing the airport tax and charges at the low-cost carrier terminal to develop new traffic and to further promote the state's tourism industry.

He said the high airport tax had hindered AirAsia from increasing flight frquency and introducing new routes in the state.

"It is a chicken and egg situation. MAB should seriously consider lowering the airport tax or charging a minimum rate. It is better than having none, especially when the Miri, Sibu and Bintulu airports are not very busy.

"The state government has written to the Transport Ministry asking them to help especially in opening up new destinations," he said.

-- BERNAMA

state gov is reli forced for tis project..

its up to them either to build or not

Although I hate the concept of LCCT, but I think it's a high time for Kuching to have one because the current KIA is too overcrowded. Actually I'd prefer the current KIA to be extended, but I guess they don't have enough land at current site.. on the left they have Transmile & cargo, on the right they have Hornbill skyways. Extension of KIA is almost impossible to be done, unless we build a new terminal.

AirAsia Gets Land Offer To Build LCCT In Kuching

KUCHING, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak government is offering a piece of land, adjacent to the Kuching International Airport, to AirAsia Bhd to build a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT), said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan.

He said the establishment of the LCCT will not only draw more air travellers to the state but also boost the state's tourism industry and double revenue.

"The state government has offered land to AirAsia to set up a LCCT here. Now, AirAsia just need's to build the terminal.

"They (AirAsia and state government) are talking seriously," said Dr Chan, who is also the state's Tourism and Heritage Minister, in an interview with Bernama today.

AirAsia, the region's largest low cost carrier, planned to build a low cost carrier at the Kuching International Airport to turn Sarawak into a low-cost air travel hub with extensive domestic and international connections.

The justification to set up a LCCT in Sarawak was because the airport tax of RM51 imposed at KIA was considered too high by travellers.

Dr Chan urged Malaysia Airport Berhad to seriously consider reducing the airport tax and charges at the low-cost carrier terminal to develop new traffic and to further promote the state's tourism industry.

He said the high airport tax had hindered AirAsia from increasing flight frquency and introducing new routes in the state.

"It is a chicken and egg situation. MAB should seriously consider lowering the airport tax or charging a minimum rate. It is better than having none, especially when the Miri, Sibu and Bintulu airports are not very busy.

"The state government has written to the Transport Ministry asking them to help especially in opening up new destinations," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Bintulu Airport is not that crowded, but I'm scared of the future of this airport. Imaginelah we have Samalaju Industrial area, then our gas industry will be bigger than ever because currently we have gas pipeline project between Bintulu and Sabah. With current frequencies of flights, I don't think it will be enough. Even now, a lot of standbyers waiting for the free seat of Bintulu-KL, Bintulu-Kch, especially during weekends.

MOT really should think of lowering the airport tax, and allow more flights in and out of Bintulu. :ohno::ohno: