Miri Airport
Miri, Sarawak
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2342482635_178841542e_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/donkuok/2342482635/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/tianyake/378275822/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/zulu_alpha_mike/4846583196/
http://upislam.com/images/42430529803204689007.jpg

Airlines and destinations
Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Singapore

Air Asia Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu,
Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Singapore

MASwings Ba'kelalan, Bario, Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu,
Labuan, Lawas, Limbang, Long Akah,
Long Banga, Long Lellang, Long Seridan,
Marudi, Mukah, Mulu, Sibu

Hornbill Skyways Kuching, Mukah, Mulu, Tanjung Manis
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3638312678_c04411426b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karyawan/3638312678/

Tawau Airport
Tawau, Sabah
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrikaxelsson/1453215137/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/69919391@N00/2790507078/

Airlines and destinations
Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
Air Asia Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
MASwings Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan

Labuan Airport
Labuan
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/3180297697_6c72247c79_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34239566@N08/3180297697/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/29353482@N07/3043145610/

Airlines and destinations
Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
Air Asia Kuala Lumpur
MASwings Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Limbang, Miri
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/2902084302_3f4ee8b167_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yungyaw/2902084302/

Redang Airport
Redang Island, Terengganu
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanfong1668/3602968414/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_different_alias/4103822273/


Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
Berjaya Air Singapore, Subang
http://www.123freehost.co.uk/sites/travel2malaysia/images/malaysiamap(1).gif

Redang Island, locally known as Pulau Redang or just "Redang" is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia. It is one of nine islands, which form a marine park, and which offer snorkeling and diving opportunities. Access is from Merang or Kuala Terengganu on boats operated by the resorts; there is also a small airport with services operated by Berjaya Air from Singapore (Seletar Airport) and Kuala Lumpur (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3574360305_b1cfa43952_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3575168624_b594844642_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazr80/3575168624/

Sibu Airport
Sibu, Sarawak

http://upislam.com/images/64882462052916085603.jpg


Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
AirAsia Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching
MASwings Kuching, Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu,
Kuching, Limbang, Miri
Firefly's KUL-SBW to commence on August 1 2011
Sibu Airport upgrading & extension

http://www.cyberjayaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/d007c6a8d020351.jpg-336x220.jpg

Sibu Airport upgrading & extension
Sibu airport upgrade

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss315/dpmy05/DSCN0380.jpg

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http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss315/dpmy05/DSCN0384.jpg

Sandakan Airport
Sandakan, Sabah
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameokaisler/1012163497/
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3675891103_7f9bfc6407_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48208213@N00/3675891103/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2641793594_7ab6085604_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thienzieyung/2641793594/

Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
AirAsia Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
MASwings Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Tawau
Sandakan Airport upgrading & extension

source:www.e-sabah.com

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/2715/sdknewairport1.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/sdknewairport1.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6524/sdknewairport2.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/i/sdknewairport2.jpg/)

thanks for the info & photos!

Mulu Airport
Mulu, Sarawak
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5028654815_c2e67f8fe7_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fledder/5028654815/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/premsagar/5023335904/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/lest_i_forget/3409312086/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/kany1120/5437706195/


Operational
Airlines Destinations
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Flag_of_Malaysia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Malaysia.svg.png Malaysia
MASwings Kota Kinabalu via Miri, Kuching, Miri

Gunung Mulu National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
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Kelantan in China-direct flights talk
Published: 2011/03/28
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110328181950/Article/index_html

The Kelantan government has entered into a collaborative agreement with a private airline to mount direct charted flights to China in an effort to expand the state's tourism industry.

State Economic Planning, Finance and the Welfare Committee Chairman Datuk Husam Musa said the maiden flight would take off on April 28.

"At the exco meeting today, we have agreed to collaborate with the private airline to have direct flights between Kota Baharu and Chengdu and Kota Baharu and Shichuan, China," he told reporters after the Kelantan state exco meeting chaired by Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat here today.

Husam said the direct flight from Kota Baharu to China will take three-and-a-half hours compared with a flight duration of four hours and 30 minutes from the Kl Internatonal Airport in Sepang. -- Bernama

Malaysia Airports to emphasise on safety, health and environment
Posted on April 12, 2011, Tuesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=118507

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Airports Bhd (MAB) will continue with its effort in promoting to its staff the importance of valuing safety, health and the environment with the launching of the safety, health and environment campaign at Terminal One of Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) yesterday.

The campaign was launched by the general manager of MAB, Zainol Mohd Isa.

“MAB aims to improve its operations in a manner that protects the environment, the health and safety of its employees and the public.

“We encourage our workforce to be tactful in the performance of their daily tasks to ensure that they do not only benefit themselves but also ultimately their surroundings as a whole,” he said.

Zainol expressed that making the workplace safe is a joint responsibility of the employers and the workers and the training of employees is the key to achieving successful safety programmes and the management must be committed to invest in safety.

To effectively convey the message of the campaign, MAB has arranged a booth exhibition, a health talk and the planting of trees by its staff.

Present at the launching yesterday was Kota Kinabalu MAB manager Kamaruzzaman Razali.

MAHB yakin jumlah trafik penumpang cecah 60 juta
2011/04/09
http://www.bharian.com.my/articles/MAHByakinjumlahtrafikpenumpangcecah60juta/Article/

MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) yakin jumlah trafik penumpang di lapangan terbang kendaliannya seluruh negara akan mencecah 60 juta tahun ini.

Tahun lalu semua 39 lapangan terbang di bawahnya mengendalikan 57.8 juta penumpang.

"Tahun ini, kami menjangkakan pertumbuhan keseluruhan antara tujuh dan lapan peratus.

"Kami percaya dapat melebihi angka 60 juta tahun ini. Industri syarikat penerbangan pulih dan pelancongan memainkan peranan penting dengan banyak pelancong datang ke Malaysia," kata Pengarah Urusan MAHB Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad kepada Bernama di New Delhi.

Dengan ekonomi dunia yang sekarang ini menunjukkan tanda pemulihan, industri syarikat penerbangan yang terjejas teruk berikutan kemelesetan ekonomi pada 2008, kembali kukuh.

Persatuan Pengembaraan dan Syarikat Penerbangan Antarabangsa (IATA) mengunjurkan permintaan teguh bagi pengangkutan udara selepas tempoh pemulihan, dipacu oleh pasaran baru muncul seperti China dan India.

IATA mengunjurkan pertumbuhan permintaan penumpang global pada 5.6 peratus tahun ini.

Berdasarkan unjuran itu, MAHB yakin dapat melepasi angka 70 juta pada 2014.

Pengendali lapangan terbang negara itu menyasar 60 juta bagi jumlah penumpang hanya pada 2014, di bawah pelan perniagaan lima tahunnya.

"Tahun ini adalah tahun yang baik. Trafik berkembang dan akan terus berkembang dan kami meningkatkan kapasiti lapangan terbang kami," kata Bashir.

Beliau berada di New Delhi bagi menghadiri Persidangan dan Pameran Keenam ACI (Majlis Antarabangsa Lapangan Terbang) Rantau Asia Pasifik.

Ketika kira-kira 60 syarikat penerbangan menawarkan perkhidmatan ke Malaysia.

-delete-

from Malaysia Airport's Annual Report 2010, it mentioned that Sandakan Airport re-development is going to start in 2011. the runway seems to be expanded longer to 2745m.

link:http://malaysiaairports.listedcompany.com/misc/ar2010/ar201000095.html

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/5415/notesfrommalaysiaairpor.jpg (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/notesfrommalaysiaairpor.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

No news about redevelopment of Ipoh Airport anyway...
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/zulu_alpha_mike/4476041328/

MAHB to achieve RM1b earnings early
Published: 2011/04/28
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110428180130/Article/index_html

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) may achieve its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) target of RM1 billion earlier than 2014.

"We hope so, and it depends on this year's performance and next year's," managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid told reporters after the company's 12th annual general meeting today.

In MAHB's Annual Report 2010, he said commercial development would be the main driver to the group achieving its EBITDA target.

Under the plan, the company should have at least 60 per cent of its revenue come from commercial business through optimising current retail space and focusing on creating new commercial space to attract customers and drive sales.

The company would also provide incentives to attract new airlines to increase both aircraft and passenger related revenue in order to achieve RM3.2 billion in revenue by 2014, Bashir said.

Meanwhile, MAHB chairman Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman said the company was anticipating further changes in the industry landscape following the liberalisation of intra-ASEAN air services agreements and airlines' route expansion.

He said that with the growth of low cost airlines in the region, the company was already seeing increased flights in its airports to regional destinations in other countries.

"Therefore, our key challenge is to ensure that we provide adequate capacity at our airports to cater the expected growth in traffic," he said.

MAHB now expected passenger traffic to grow to 72 million by 2014 as its earlier target of 60 million could be achieved this year, he added. - Bernama

No news about redevelopment of Ipoh Airport anyway...
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/zulu_alpha_mike/4476041328/

RM24m saved in airport upgrade
By EDMUND NGO Friday April 29, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/4/29/north/8562854&sec=North

THE Transport Ministry and the Perak Government are expected to save at least RM24mil for the cost of the Sultan Azlan Shah airport upgrading project.

Perak Gerakan chief Datuk Chang Ko Youn said the first package of the project was awarded through an open tender to a company at just RM36mil as compared to the initial projected cost of RM60mil.

“I congratulate the ministry and the state government on being able to reduce the construction cost and start the construction work for the airport smoothly,” he told a press conference.

Work began at the airport this month and the project includes extending the airport’s runway by 200m from the present 1.8km and upgrading the terminal.

Chang said Ipoh needs a more advanced airport with better facilities in order to stimulate the state’s economy especially in the Kinta Valley.

“A better airport and more flights would support the state’s efforts in promoting tourism and getting more investors.

“There are high demands and even with flights from Ipoh to Singapore alone, the passenger-load factor is between 80% to 100%,” he said.

On a separate matter, Chang, who is also Gerakan’s deputy president, said Utusan Malaysia should not have made such racial statements which was against the 1Malaysia concept.

“I disagree with the statements made by Utusan as it increases racial disunity and is against the 1Malaysia concept mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“We need to work towards uniting the people and decreasing racial disharmony and by making such statements, it does not help at all,” he said.

:cheers:

Malaysia Airports Q1 profit at RM88m
Published: 2011/05/31
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110531134024/Article/index_html#ixzz1NvjPBNFv

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd said first-quarter profit rose to RM88.1 million from RM73.1 million a year earlier.

Revenue climbed to RM610.4 million from RM498.6 million, the company said in a statement to the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange today. -- Bloomberg

Read more: Malaysia Airports Q1 profit at RM88m http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110531134024/Article/index_html#ixzz1Nvjblg12

Malaysia Airports, Malaysia Marine climb
Published: 2011/05/31
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110531103027/Article/index_html#ixzz1NvjlYXmF

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (www.malaysiaairports.com.my/) and Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering Bhd (www.mmhe.com.my/) rose to records in Kuala Lumpur trading ahead of their inclusion into the MSCI Malaysia Index.

Shares of Malaysia Airports, the nation’s airports operator, climbed 3.7 per cent to RM6.80 at 10:14 a.m. local time. Malaysia Marine climbed 1.9 per cent to RM7.61. The changes will take place at the end of today, MSCI Inc said in a May 16 statement on its website. -- Bloomberg

[SIZE="4"]Perak Gerakan chief Datuk Chang Ko Youn said the first package of the project was awarded through an open tender to a company at just RM36mil as [B]compared to the initial projected cost of RM60mil

If only the chap realizes how embarassing that statement is to those who came up with the said "initial projected cost" :lol:
What was the difference of RM24mil earmarked for ?
Anyway, RM36mil is only the contract value - wait for all the variation orders before totalling up the bill :)

MAHB mulls new airline incentive plan
Written by Sheikh Al-Zaquan Wednesday, 01 June 2011 11:44
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/187475-mahb-mulls-new-airline-incentive-plan.html

http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/images/stories/FinancialDaily/2011/June/01062011/mahb-cjs.jpg
Faizal: The incentive programme is to reward airlines that give us growth.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) may introduce a new incentive programme for airlines by year-end when the current programme expires.

Following MAHB’s results briefing yesterday, chief financial officer Faizal Mansor said, “The intention of the incentive programme is to reward airlines that give us growth, and it is offered to all airlines. We always say that airline incentives are the prerogative of the airport and we may introduce a new incentive programme that could be a slight variation on the existing programme.”

The incentives are provided under an Airline Recovery Programme (ARP) for airlines announced on Nov 18, 2009 and effective for three years ending 2011.

MAHB’s revenue from the aeronautical segment fell 0.3% to RM204.6 million for 1QFY11 ended March 31, as the accrual of airline incentives tripled to RM30 million from RM10 million last year. “Airport operations as a whole did not grow [in 1QFY11], and the main reason was the airline incentives,” said Faizal.

He estimates a payout of RM60 million to RM80 million in airline incentives for the full year, following the RM30 million distributed in FY10. The final payout will be handed out next year after a review of airlines’ performance in 2011.

“When we stop paying the incentives , you will see that our growth in 2013 will be quite substantial,” said Faizal.

He said the existing incentive programme measures the performance of an airline against a selected base year, which varies among airlines. If there is growth in an airline’s performance compared with its base year, the airline is given RM10 to RM15 per passenger in the form of credit notes.

“Thus, even if the airline shows a marked decline on a year-to-year basis there may still be growth when compared with the base year. For the new programme, we will not use a base year and will measure growth on a year-to-year basis, similar to what is offered by other airports,” said Faizal.

[U]MAHB’s net profit rose 20.4% year-on-year in 1QFY11 to RM88.1 million from RM73.1 million the year before, while revenue rose 22.42% to RM610.38 million from RM498.6 million on the back of a RM155 million provision relating to the construction of KLIA2 and the Penang International Airport.

The company adopted IC12 (Interpretation 12 : Service Concession Arrangements), an accounting treatment for “public-private” arrangements whereby a private sector operator is involved in the construction or upgrading of infrastructure assets to be used in public service. Stripping the effects of IC12, revenue rose 4.3% to RM455.16 million. Earnings per share increased to 8.02 sen from 6.66 sen.

MAHB recorded passenger growth of 11.9% in 1QFY11 as a total of 15.1 million travellers passed through its local airports. International passenger movements outpaced the growth in domestic movements, as the two registered a growth of 13.6% and 10.2%, respectively.

“Despite the natural catastrophes that had affected northeast Japan in March and the upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa, total passenger movements in KLIA improved by 12.4%, whereby both LCCT and KLIA-MTB recorded positive growth of 19.6% and 6.6%. All other airports recorded an aggregate growth in total passenger movement of 11.1%” said Faizal. Total aircraft movements rose 9.1% to 152,693 aircraft.

“Passenger movements are typically slower in 2Q and we expect them to pick up going into 3Q. We anticipate passenger growth of 7% to 8% for the full year in 2011. We see strong regional and global growth, and are quite optimistic,” Faizal said.

MAHB manages and operates 39 airports, of which five are international, 16 domestic and 18 short take-off and landing ports. It also has operations in India, Turkey and the Maldives.

Shares of the company traded at a 52-week high of RM7.02 following the announcement of its 1Q results, before closing lower at RM6.37.

Govt, airlines to talk in bid to increase tourists
Posted on June 29, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/29/govt-airlines-to-talk-in-bid-to-increase-tourists/

KUCHING: The Tourism and Heritage Ministry will continue to engage with existing and new airlines to bring more tourists into the state.

According to its minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, the ministry is preparing some strategies to achieve the goal as accessibility and connectivity are important areas that must be pursued.

“Some of the strategies include improving connectivity from hub airports like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by reducing transit time, global distribution system schedule display, marketing support to airlines, leveraging on the Liberal Aviation Policy to encourage airlines to fly to Sarawak, focusing on chartered operations during peak demand in selected markets like North Asia and Western Europe and collaborating with Malaysia Airport Berhad and other agencies to improve incentive programmes for aircraft landing and parking,” he said.

Abang Johari added that they were optimistic that positive trends in arrivals would continue this year, especially with improved connectivity, coupled with joint strategic marketing and promotional plans.

“Under the BIMP-Eaga air connectivity expansion initiative, I am pushing hard to get the federal government to allow MASWings to fly to selected destinations in Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.

“In addition, I am also engaging with other carriers on the possibility of opening up new routes from Europe, Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

Abang Johari pointed out that accessibility into the state had continued to improve this year, with several new destinations and carriers flying into Sarawak.

“The first four months of this year recorded a total visitor arrival of 1,158,994 visitors.

“Of these, 62.3 per cent were foreigners and 37.7 per cent were domestic visitors,” he said.

Last year, the state recorded 3,270,655 visitor arrivals, of which 58 per cent were international and 42 per cent were domestic visitors from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.

Tourist receipts earned last year based on Tourism Malaysia’s estimate was RM1.69 billion.

Malaysia to lift airport tax from Sept 15: Report
Published: 2011/08/11
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110811090524/Article/index_html

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd has received government approval to increase airport tax starting Sept. 15, raising the cost of travel, the Sun newspaper reported, citing people it didn’t identify.

The airport operator may raise the passenger service charge by RM14 (US$5) for international travelers, the report said. -- Bloomberg

copied and pasted. u guys know any news in rgds to this in our local dailies?

Lion Air Establishing LCC In Malaysia
Aug 8, 2011

http://www.aviationweek.com

Lion Air, Indonesia’s largest airline, plans to transform little-known carrier Berjaya Air into a low-cost carrier for Malaysia.

The Berjaya Group tells the Malaysia stock exchange that Lion Air will own 49% and it will retain 51%, with the deal expected to be concluded in the second half of the year. It says the Berjaya Group and Lion will participate in a rights issue to raise 60 million ringgit ($20 million) to recapitalize the airline.

“The local aviation industry has seen some tremendous changes with the introduction of several regional and long-haul budget airline operators during the last decade,” says the Berjaya Group, adding that “the success of the business models of these low-cost carriers has proven that there is ample demand for the movement of passengers to and from Malaysia, as well as among regional destinations.

“Berjaya Group hopes the proposed joint venture with Lion Air will allow Berjaya Air to successfully expand its business horizon beyond Malaysia by capitalizing on its Indonesian partner’s experience and ‘economies of scale’ in the aviation services industry with a large fleet of aircraft and an expansive reach of destinations,” it says.

Berjaya Air operates three de Havilland Dash 7s and one ATR 72-500, according to the Ascend database. It is based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport but also operates from Singapore to Malaysia’s Tioman and Redang islands, where the Berjaya Group owns resorts.

Lion Air has wanted to expand out of Indonesia for many years to compete against AirAsia in Malaysia. A few years ago, AirAsia expanded internationally by launching Indonesia AirAsia.

copied and pasted. u guys know any news in rgds to this in our local dailies?

Lion Air Establishing LCC In Malaysia
Aug 8, 2011

http://www.aviationweek.com

Lion Air, Indonesia’s largest airline, plans to transform little-known carrier Berjaya Air into a low-cost carrier for Malaysia.

The Berjaya Group tells the Malaysia stock exchange that Lion Air will own 49% and it will retain 51%, with the deal expected to be concluded in the second half of the year. It says the Berjaya Group and Lion will participate in a rights issue to raise 60 million ringgit ($20 million) to recapitalize the airline.

“The local aviation industry has seen some tremendous changes with the introduction of several regional and long-haul budget airline operators during the last decade,” says the Berjaya Group, adding that “the success of the business models of these low-cost carriers has proven that there is ample demand for the movement of passengers to and from Malaysia, as well as among regional destinations.

“Berjaya Group hopes the proposed joint venture with Lion Air will allow Berjaya Air to successfully expand its business horizon beyond Malaysia by capitalizing on its Indonesian partner’s experience and ‘economies of scale’ in the aviation services industry with a large fleet of aircraft and an expansive reach of destinations,” it says.

Berjaya Air operates three de Havilland Dash 7s and one ATR 72-500, according to the Ascend database. It is based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport but also operates from Singapore to Malaysia’s Tioman and Redang islands, where the Berjaya Group owns resorts.

Lion Air has wanted to expand out of Indonesia for many years to compete against AirAsia in Malaysia. A few years ago, AirAsia expanded internationally by launching Indonesia AirAsia.

that good... and it is the time...
Swap share between AirAsia and MAS will become a monopoly market but they have a new competitor again...but Berjaya Group....

dont put up too much faith on uncle vince lah

Mau masuk pintu belakang kind of deal here!DCA will not allow them the landing rights so what better way to tumpang uncle vince license lah.

Shakeout at MAHB
Written by Jose Barrock Friday, 12 August 2011 14:57
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/191215-shakeout-at-mahb.html

http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/images/stories/FinancialDaily/2011/August/12082011/cover.jpg

Changes at Malaysia Airports may extend beyond the higher airport tax it has
proposed. According to sources, several directors are expected to be
replaced with 'people from the industry' soon.

KUALA LUMPUR: After the boardroom changes at Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS), Khazanah Nasional Bhd is poised to make significant changes in Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

Sources said several boardroom changes are expected to be announced in the next few days involving MAHB.

“It is with the view of injecting new blood into MAHB. The first wave of change is likely to be among independent directors. They are to be replaced with people from the industry. Subsequently, other key people on the MAHB board will also be replaced,” said sources.

Khazanah is the single largest shareholder of MAHB with 54%. However, it has only two board representatives — Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, former managing director of Malakoff Bhd, and Mohd Izani Ghani, chief financial officer of Khazanah. The rest of the 11-member MAHB board comprises mainly representatives of the ministries of transport and finance.

The chairman of MAHB is Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman while managing director is Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid, a veteran in the aviation industry. Bashir spent 29 years in MAS undertaking several responsibilities before becoming the aviation advisor in the transport ministry. He was appointed managing director of MAHB in June 2003.

Dr Aris was also appointed to MAHB in 2003. Prior to that, he was known as a key person in the finance ministry where his last position was secretary-general.

Sources said that just like MAS where several independent directors were replaced with people from the industry, MAHB is also likely to see some key corporate figures appointed to the board in the next few days.

“Gone are the days when the boards of such companies comprise mainly serving and retired civil servants. Khazanah wants to put new faces from the corporate sector to give MAHB a new direction,” said a source.

In MAS, among those appointed are Tan Sri Krishnan Tan of IJM Corp Bhd, which is a leading construction company, Datuk Rozana Rozhan from Astro and David Lau Nai Pek, a chartered accountant by qualification.

It is learnt that after the boardroom changes, the movements of people in the organisation will also take place.

The contracts of Aris and Bashir expire in the middle of next year but the experience in MAS has shown that the national strategic investment agency has no qualms about removing people before the term is up. In the case of MAS, managing director-cum-CEO Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin had a year left in his contract before he resigned. He is now executive director of investments in Khazanah.

MAHB had been in the news of late due to the construction of a new low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in Kuala Lumpur International Airport known as KLIA 2. The new terminal dedicated for LCCs is expected to be completed by 2013 to cater for 30 million passengers.

With the new airport, the aviation industry is expecting an increase in parking and landing charges which have not been raised since 1992.

In a related development, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha confirmed a news report yesterday that MAHB is set to increase airport tax or passenger service charge.

According to Bernama, Kong said the approval for the airport tax increase had been given in February 2009.

“We actually approved the increase in February 2009. The only thing is that it has not been implemented as we left it to MAHB to implement it and make the appropriate announcement.

“The increase is actually part of an operating agreement signed between MAHB and the transport ministry in 2009,” he told Bernama yesterday.

Quoting sources, The Sun yesterday reported that MAHB was set to raise the airport tax to cover rising operating costs and finance airport expansion.

It was also reported that MAHB proposed that the tax at the country’s 39 airports it manages, excluding LCCTs, be raised by RM14 for international travellers from Sept 15. In this event, the travellers will have to pay RM65 compared with RM51 (RM45 for airport tax and RM6 for security charge) now.

The last increase was in 2002, when the charges were raised to RM45 from RM40 for international passengers and to RM6 from RM5 for domestic departures.

The report also said the tax at the LCCTs in Sepang and the Kota Kinabalu International Airport will also likely be raised by RM7, bringing the airport tax to RM32 from the current RM25 for international passengers.

In May 2007, the transport ministry halved airport tax at LCCTs from RM51 to RM25 for international passengers and from RM9 to RM6 for domestic passengers.

Aircraft land and park free but pax pay ha?Apa ini?To many of them got too comfortable at MAHB its time to move on guys.

Aircraft land and park free but pax pay ha?Apa ini?To many of them got too comfortable at MAHB its time to move on guys.

Aircrafts still need to pay landing fees (more airlines landing on MAHB's runways, means more revenue). From what I remember, KLIA was one of the cheapest airports for aircraft to land. Same thing with aerobridges, airline companies need to pay to MAHB everytime one of their aircrafts utilizes the aerobridge.

Call to upgrade Miri Airport
Posted on October 6, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/10/06/call-to-upgrade-miri-airport/

MIRI: Miri Airport, as the northern gateway to Sarawak and one of the main and most important tourist attractions in the state, should be upgraded to enable it to receive direct international flights for the convenience of international travellers.

In making the suggestion, PAS Miri chief cum state deputy commissioner III Jofri Jaraee said this was because Miri is Sarawak’s second largest city with a population of about 300,000 and famous for its natural assets and tourist attractions.

“Miri is surrounded by four world-class national parks such as Mount Mulu, Niah Caves, Bukit Lambir Loagan Bunut and Gunung Mulu National Park which are regularly visited by foreign and local tourists,” he said.

He cited some of these attractions as Unesco World Heritage sites that encompass incredible caves and rock formations in a mountainous equatorial rainforest setting.

In addition, he said Miri is well-known for traditional handicrafts and souvenir shops.

Aviation policy finally takes off
Tuesday October 18, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/18/nation/9717739&sec=nation#13189445732801&if_height=621

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/10/18/nation/n_02najib.jpg

Up is the only way: Students grabbing their chance to take a group photo
with Najib and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

SEPANG: The National Aviation Policy, shot down by the Government when the idea was mooted early last year, will take off again with the Prime Minister saying it is a timely move in view of the industry's progress and the country's changing landscape.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Transport Ministry would formulate the policy.

“I am certain a comprehensive National Aviation Policy will give us an important boost as we take the step forward to a brighter and more defined future for Malaysian aviation.

“I look forward to unveiling this policy after input, views and concerns from all stakeholders have been considered and evaluated.”

He was speaking to a gathering of aviation experts and airline industry players at the 100 Years of Aviation in Malaysia celebration at the MAS Hangar 6 here.

In May last year, the Transport Ministry rejected calls by Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia for such a policy, stating that existing guidelines were sufficient.

Najib said the aviation industry was being held back by “clawing and unrelenting challenges that fluctuate erratically.”

“From fuel prices to security threats, to natural disasters and disease outbreaks; never before has aviation faced so much peril in such a short span of time,” he said.

Despite that, he tipped his hat off to the country's aviation industry for what it had achieved in the past 100 years, since the first flight was recorded in 1911 when one G.P. Fuller landed his Antoinette monoplane at the Ampang race course in Kuala Lumpur, where the Petronas Twin Towers now stand.

“No one would have imagined how far we would come, given the state that we were in then. But we confounded critics and today, in aviation as well as in various other areas, we stand no less than some of the most developed countries in the world,” said Najib.

He said it was timely to implement a national policy, considering the progress of the aviation industry and the country's landscape.

Upgrading works on Sibu Airport ahead of schedule
by Jane Moh. Posted on November 3, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/03/upgrading-works-on-sibu-airport-ahead-of-schedule/

SIBU: Works to expand and upgrade Sibu Airport are progressing well and completion can be expected in nine months time.

Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh told a press conference yesterday that the works were actually slightly ahead of schedule.

“Package one is 1.30 per cent ahead of schedule and package two is 2 per cent ahead of schedule,” he revealed.

He added: “The new check-in counters would be opened by Dec 19.”

The project procurement method was implemented through Pre-Qualified Open Tender and divided into two separate design-and-build contract packages.

Package one involved the extension of passenger terminal building, central utility building and other associated works.

The second package involved airside and landside works, DCA building and other associated works.

Wong, who is also the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said the airport would serve not only Sibu, but the entire central region.

“When fully completed, the airport will be bigger than the one in Miri, though smaller than Kuching International Airport.

“It has all the features of an international airport. A domestic departure lounge and the international departure lounge will be available,” he enthused.

He said once the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) was fully implemented, Sibu Airport would become a very busy place.

“People have to come to Sibu first before they could go elsewhere. So, this is the gateway to the central region,” he said.

^^nice

Miri Airport to be expanded under 11MP
By Bernama
Tuesday, 06 December 2011 19:48

MIRI (Dec 6): The Miri Airport will be expanded further to cater for the growing volume of passengers and cargo passing through it, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri here on Tuesday.

He said the expansion project would be implemented under the 11th Malaysia Plan following the increase in air passengers using the airport which was projected to reach two million within the next two years.

The airport recorded an increase of 9.75% in passenger traffic during the first nine months of this year where 1.35 million passengers used the airport compared with 1.23 million during the same period last year, he said at a press conference after a one-day working visit, here.

He said cargo traffic also increased 18.69% during the period under review from 4,849 tonnes to 5,756 tonnes.

"It is the busiest domestic airport in Malaysia in terms of passenger and aircraft movement," he said. — Bernama

Qantas boss bets the house on Asian expansion
AUSTRALIA – When Tony Fernandes last jetted into Sydney for a major PR event it was to trumpet his airline’s operational alliance with Qantas’s budget offshoot, Jetstar, aimed at saving them both money on buying planes and parts.

The outspoken boss of AirAsia engaged in a group hug with the Qantas chief executive, Alan Joyce, and Jetstar’s boss, Bruce Buchanan, for the cameras at Jones Bay Wharf, with the Harbour Bridge as a backdrop.

Although arch rivals in much of Asia’s budget air markets, the Qantas duo and Fernandes, in his trademark red baseball cap, were keen to showcase their close relationship.


”The sky’s open to what else we can do,” Fernandes boasted.

Two years on Joyce and Fernandes are again in talks, this time about setting up an ultra-premium carrier in Malaysia. The two fortysomething CEOs have much more riding on the outcome of their negotiations.

For Joyce, the plan for an ultra-premium airline as part of a joint venture with Malaysia Airlines – the national flag carrier over which Fernandes now has considerable influence – is the centrepiece of his bold gamble to shift Qantas’s centre of gravity closer to Asia.

The Irishman has emerged hardened but not unscathed from one of the most bitter industrial battles in Qantas’s 91-year history. After bringing a long-running stand-off with unions to a dramatic head

three months ago when he grounded the airline’s entire fleet, Joyce now has to deliver on his plans to turn around the loss-making international operations and snare a bigger slice of the world’s fastest-growing aviation market.

His long-term strategy might be bold but it is high-risk. Launching an ultra-premium airline in south-east Asia is fraught with political, cultural and financial hurdles.

”The Asian step is clearly an ambitious one but a pretty understandable one,” says Conor McCarthy, a mate of Joyce’s who is regarded as the operational brains behind AirAsia.

”Qantas seem to be taking a view that they would not be going it alone, that they would look for partners. That makes sense because an Australian airline trying to break into markets in south-east Asia on its own might have some real problems – not just regulatory problems – but just in terms of breaking into the markets that would be strongly protected by the incumbents.”

The rush is on for Asia’s nouveau riche. A severe downturn in debt-laden European economies and a weak outlook for the US makes Asia look like a honey pot for airlines.

”It is the most resilient customer right now,” Andrew Orchard, an aviation analyst at Royal Bank of Scotland in Hong Kong, says of Asia’s wealthy and corporate travellers. ”There is a lot of wealth flowing into this part of the world. That is something airlines recognise.”

The Asia-Pacific region eclipsed North America as the world’s largest aviation market in 2009 by a few million people, notching up 647 million air travellers at 26 per cent of global passenger traffic.

By 2015, the International Air Transport Association is forecasting, travel within the Asia-Pacific will account for almost a third of the total. Although predicated on what happens in Europe and the US, the peak body for airlines is forecasting annual traffic growth of almost 7 per cent in the region by that year.

Qantas is not alone in the race to court well-heeled flyers in Asia. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines are doing their utmost to boost their appeal, knowing they need to stay ahead of their rivals.

From his Dublin office, McCarthy says Qantas’s plans for an ultra-premium carrier haven’t been discussed at AirAsia board level but he has been part of ”broad discussions”.

”It wouldn’t fit with AirAsia’s market at all. What it would be is something that would work probably between MAS [Malaysia Airlines] and Qantas, with potentially Tony’s involvement as well and a clear segmentation of the market,” says the co-founder of AirAsia, who worked alongside Joyce at Ireland’s flag carrier, Aer Lingus, in the 1990s and later helped design the blueprint for Jetstar.

Joyce’s ambitions rely heavily on buy-in from Fernandes, Malaysia’s answer to Richard Branson who, together with McCarthy, has built AirAsia from two planes and a pile of debt into Asia’s largest budget airline over the last decade.

”Tony is front and centre. He is part of the strategy – he is not just keeping a roving eye,” a Qantas insider says. ”We’ve got a failing international business … we need to do something. [Malaysia Airlines] are clearly struggling, so both companies essentially have to make something happen.”

Qantas initially favoured Singapore as a base for a new airline but Malaysia became more attractive in August when AirAsia and the government-controlled Malaysia Airlines agreed to a share swap. The deal opened the way for Qantas to progress talks on setting up an ultra-premium carrier based in Kuala Lumpur as part of a joint venture with the Malaysian flag carrier.

Apart from Fernandes, the other central character in the talks has been Malaysia Airlines’ deputy CEO, Mohammed Rashdan Yusof. Described as ”very smart”, Yusof represents the Malaysian government’s sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah, at Malaysia Airlines. The share-swap deal left Fernandes and his associates with almost 21 per cent of Malaysia Airlines, while Khazanah took a 10 per cent stake in AirAsia, the region’s equivalent of Ryanair. ”Now Tony is not in a position to piss off Khazanah, but likewise Khazanah is not in a position to piss off Tony,” an insider says.

Qantas has a dual track process under way. Under its favoured ”capital-light” option, a new airline based in Kuala Lumpur would use 15 twin-aisle A330 aircraft which Malaysia Airlines is due to take delivery of shortly.

At the same time, Qantas is wanting to bolster its relationship with Malaysia Airlines, initially through a code-share alliance but eventually extending to a much closer tie-up similar to its revenue-sharing agreements with British Airways and American Airlines.

Under the plans, the ultra-premium airline – Qantas has been testing RedQ and OneAsia as brand names – will service Australia and other medium-haul destinations, including China and India. Qantas maintains the airline is a different but complementary proposition to Malaysia Airlines’ plans for a short-haul premium carrier, announced late last year, several months after the asset swap with AirAsia.

Although it will include other classes besides business, the Qantas offshoot is touted as having ”very high specifications” and ”will not be replicating anything else” (such as British Airways’ all-business class flights from the City Airport in London to New York).

In contrast, the plans for Singapore – now playing second fiddle to Malaysia – are very different, requiring a capital injection of up to $500 million and using single-aisle A320neo aircraft Qantas ordered last year.

Either way, Qantas will have to overcome considerable scepticism. Kuala Lumpur might be a growing capital city but it is not the business hub where ”you would expect this type of premium service to be based”, says RBS’s Orchard, who lists Hong Kong and Singapore as preferable locations.

”The intentions are very good, and maybe they are a little bit ahead of the rest of the market. But basing a new premium carrier there [in Kuala Lumpur] would be a missed opportunity, even though I can see why they are doing it. Part of it is that their hand is being forced.”

More importantly, he questions the timing of setting up an ultra-premium airline because more people – even in Asia – are choosing to fly economy class due to the precarious state of the global economy. Business class might be a high yielding part of the aviation market but it is low volume.

”On the one hand you do see wealth creation in this part of the world. On the other hand you have dominant players already in SIA [Singapore Airlines] and Cathay,” Orchard says.

”Even if you have a low-density plane run by Qantas and Malaysia Airlines out of KL, is it going to be that much better option than what SIA already offers?”

Middle Eastern airlines such as Emirates and Etihad are also fighting aggressively for premium passengers.

The question is whether RedQ will be ”premium enough” to encourage the rich and corporate travellers to switch from Singapore Airlines and Cathay. It will need high frequency, and good timing for business passengers who want to sleep on the planes before arriving at their destinations to go straight to meetings.

Ground products such as airport lounges and services to ensure passengers move smoothly from their home to the airport gate are also becoming more important.

”It is the whole nine yards – it is the frequency; it is upgrading the product,” Orchard says. ”Upgrading the product is becoming increasingly important with lounges and limo services. The older incumbent carriers are realising that this new reality is upon us.”

Even under a ”capital light option”, there will need to be a refit of a dedicated fleet of aircraft to appeal to the well-heeled traveller – not to forget training of staff. All of which does not come cheaply.

”It is going to take some time to build up … as many as five years,” Orchard says. ”And in the first few years you probably have to be more competitive on pricing. You have to accept margins will be smaller.”

The attempts to target Asia’s growing upper class might make sense on paper but industry insiders question what Qantas offers Fernandes and Malaysia Airlines.

It is not the first time Qantas has danced with Malaysia Airlines, only for them to go their separate ways. Under Geoff Dixon, Qantas attempted a merger in 2008 but that tango broke down over the ratio of shareholdings in any venture.

So where does Qantas fit into the grand plans of Fernandes and Malaysia Airlines?

The question leaves many veterans scratching their heads.

”I don’t see the opportunity for Qantas. What do they bring to the table?” an insider close to both parties asks, before pointing out that China is a much higher priority for Fernandes than Australia and Qantas.

”I can understand that they will fill the back of the plane but why does Tony Fernandes want to give it away [to Qantas]? If it was a joint venture with someone in China I would understand it.”

Fernandes, a one-time employee of Richard Branson, also has his hands full. Apart from Malaysia, AirAsia has offshoots in Thailand and Indonesia, as well as new ventures in Japan and the Philippines.

Add his English Premier League Club and formula one racing team, and now his involvement in Malaysia Airlines, on whose board he sits.

”Where does Qantas fit into his day?” a source asks.

Even Joyce recently admitted that Fernandes can have ”50 business ideas a day”.

But after the industrial turmoil last year that cost Qantas $194 million, the pressure is mounting on Joyce to pull another rabbit out of his hat. A team led by a Qantas group executive, Lesley Grant, has been reviewing international options, including a new carrier, since last January.

Shareholders want some payback after several dismal years.

”Qantas investors have put up with a lot in the last 12 months and they want to start seeing some good news. That is where they are pinning their hopes – on the Asian carrier and expectations of a growing market,” the CBA Equities transport analyst Matt Crowe says.

”[Qantas] has had the excuse of the industrial dispute. They need to get on with it.”

Joyce has the caveat that any investment in Asia will depend on global economic conditions. But the airline maintains that it needs to find a solution for turning around its international operations and cement its place firmly in Asia before deregulation of the aviation market gathers speed.

Investors are likely to find out as soon as next month, when Qantas releases its half-year earnings, whether a dalliance with Malaysia Airlines will fly. But even if Joyce and Fernandes can nut out a deal, establishing an airline – even under the preferred ”capital-light” option – will take time. Winning approval for a new air operator’s certificate is likely to take a year, while gaining critical mass will take at least another.

”Premium airlines are being talked about all over Asia. The problem with the industry is that the lead time is so long,” a former senior Qantas executive says. ”KL to Singapore is like Adelaide to Sydney. They are wanting to go upmarket for business traffic but there is just not that much.”

Conor McCarthy is doubtful, too, about the rush for Asia’s emerging wealthy classes.

”Some of them [airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines] are getting involved early on because they want to be on that train when it leaves the station,” he says.

”There is a sizeable market but the problem is that it’s a pretty fragmented market. It is all over Asia and Asia is a big place. Where one group might want to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, another group might want to go from Kuala Lumpur to Bali.”

The large network needed presents a big challenge because it will have to meet the high demands of first-class travellers even when passenger volumes might not be high.

”It is going to require some careful roll out. There are benefits Qantas can bring to Malaysia Airlines and benefits Malaysia Airlines can bring to Qantas, which some of the stronger carriers would be reluctant to share,” McCarthy says. ”You try to do something like this in Singapore and you are going to find Singapore Airlines quite aggressive in defending their turf and not wanting to share any of the cake.”

The Irishman says Qantas’s push into Asia, where ”there is huge room to grow”, is an obvious strategic decision given the limited growth in its home market.

” for you to break people away from their existing frequent flyer programs, to migrate them from their existing airlines to a new product, takes longer. So you need a little bit more patience and you need a little bit more capital,” he says.

”The problem with the airline business is that there are some great ideas running out of capital before they get a chance to establish themselves.”

Link: http://www.news.mekongtours.biz/qantas-boss-bets-the-house-on-asian-expansion

[B]A very interesting article !!

Qantas's Asia plan may hinge on how to split joint venture Matt O'sullivan
January 18, 2012

ONE of the biggest barriers to Qantas striking a deal on setting up an ultra-premium carrier in south-east Asia in partnership with Malaysia Airlines will be each side agreeing to their ownership stakes in a new venture, says the boss of the long-haul airline AirAsia X.

Azran Osman-Rani's comments come as AirAsia X confirmed it will launch direct flights between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur in April, after four years of lobbying Malaysian regulators to allow it to enter the route.

Although he is not involved in the talks, his comments about Qantas's plans for Asia carry weight because his airline is an affiliate of AirAsia, whose chief executive, Tony Fernandes, will be key to whether Qantas can form a joint venture with Malaysia Airlines. Mr Fernandes took almost a 21 per cent stake in Malaysia's flag carrier in August, giving him considerable influence over its direction.

Advertisement: Story continues below ''One thing they are going to have to sort out is the whole ownership issue, because that is one of the barriers from their previous efforts,'' Mr Osman-Rani said in Sydney yesterday.

''If both sides want to have a majority, someone has to give in.''

Qantas attempted a full-blown merger with Malaysia Airlines in 2008, but the talks broke down over the ratio of shareholdings each carrier had in a merged entity.

Pressure from investors has been building on Qantas to offer more clarity about its expansion in Asia.

''Firstly they just need to make a decision and stick with it - which hub and which partner - because right now there seems to be a lot of talk but not a lot of things moving,'' Mr Osman-Rani said. ''The longer you wait, the further back you will be.''

Qantas has been favouring Kuala Lumpur over Singapore as a hub for a new carrier.

Mr Osman-Rani doubted Qantas would face the same regulatory barriers in Malaysia to have beset AirAsia X in recent years.

''I don't think that is going to be a big issue because Malaysia, as a matter of policy, is actively encouraging foreign airlines to come in, obviously because Malaysia's aspiration is to catch up to Singapore,'' he said.

AirAsia X - in which Richard Branson has a 10 per cent stake - will launch daily flights between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur on April 2, several months before Singapore Airlines's new low-cost offshoot, Scoot, will make Sydney its first destination. Their entry will intensify pressure on Qantas's budget offshoot, Jetstar.

AirAsia X is focusing on markets in the Asia-Pacific such as Australia after announcing last week that it will ditch services to Europe and India because of high jet fuel prices and weak economic conditions. Mr Osman-Rani said the airline would not be boosting the Sydney service to a double-daily flight until next year at the earliest. But it is keen to launch flights to a fifth Australian city - most likely Adelaide - next year, when it will take delivery of new A330 aircraft.

AirAsia X already flies to the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth from Kuala Lumpur.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/business/qantass-asia-plan-may-hinge-on-how-to-split-joint-venture-20120117-1q4nn.html#ixzz1jmqPZ5Q2

MAHB (www.malaysiaairports.com.my/) eyes opportunities in China, Indonesia
Published: 2012/01/26
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120126174206/Article/index_html

ISTANBUL: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd is eyeing opportunities to manage and operate airports in Indonesia and China.

Managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said MAHB was now looking at two airports, one each in China and Indonesia.

“We are now in discussions with a few parties which include local firms in these countries. We hope to finalise talks with these parties by the end of this year,” he told Malaysian journalists here.

MAHB is the operator and manager of 39 airports in Malaysia and four airports overseas.

MAHB's investments overseas are in Delhi International Airport Pte Ltd and Hyderabad International Airport Pte Ltd in India, GMR Male International Airport Pte Ltd in Maldives and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen in Turkey.

Bashir also expects MAHB to record a better performance for its financial year ended Dec 31, 2011 compared to the previous year.

MAHB turned in a net profit of RM293.9 million on revenue of RM1.81 billion for its financial year 2010.

Bashir also foresees performance for the current financial year to be better than 2011 with revenue exceeding RM2 billion.

“Revenue for 2012 will surpass RM2 billion. Profit would also be better (year-on-year),” he said.

MAHB posted a net profit of RM278.2 million on revenue of RM1.917 billion for its nine months ended September 2011.

According to Bashir, the better numbers for 2012 are in line with his projection of 6 to 7 per cent growth in the total number of passengers for 2012.

MAHB ’s total number of passengers for 2011 was 64 million, an increase of more than 10 per cent from 58 million recorded in 2010. - Bernama

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6534165469_b51b7177a5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/spine186/6534165469/)
2011-12-04_Delhi_India_21-59-29_DSC00168_NickSpinelli_2011 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/spine186/6534165469/) by spine186 (http://www.flickr.com/people/spine186/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3058/2838527884_8126cb772a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crew320/2838527884/)
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (http://www.flickr.com/photos/crew320/2838527884/) by crew320 (http://www.flickr.com/people/crew320/), on Flickr

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4118/4919295538_0f3c2cdb51_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/baburey/4919295538/)
terminal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/baburey/4919295538/) by baburu2010 (http://www.flickr.com/people/baburey/), on Flickr

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4022/4713406585_51ff12f6c6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dundarsahin/4713406585/)
Birdview of a Lady (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dundarsahin/4713406585/) by DundarSahin (http://www.flickr.com/people/dundarsahin/), on Flickr
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/33/160731886_8e455f9a19_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oguz/160731886/

Firm awaits Turkey govt call for 2nd runway tender
Published: 2012/01/27
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120126235257/Article/

ISTANBUL: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) hopes the Turkish government will call for tender soon for a US$800 million (RM2.43 billion) contract to build a second runway and new control tower at the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (ISGIA) to meet growing demand.

MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said the new runway, measuring 3,500m by 60m, will be able to accommodate all aircraft types including Boeing’s B747 and Airbus’ A380, thereby ncreasing passenger traffic.

The current runway can only handle narrow-body aircraft, also known as a single aisle plane.

MAHB, in a consortium comprising India’s GMR Infrastructure Ltd and Turkey’s Limak Group, won a 22-year concession in 2007 to develop, manage and operate ISGIA in a deal worth ?1.9 billion (RM7.56 billion) on a 20:40:40 basis.

Bashir said the Turkish government will pay for the cost to construct the second runway, control tower, infrastructure and ancillary buildings.

He expects the tender to attract Malaysian construction companies.

“We believe growth of airlines will take place at ISGIA. We are currently the third busiest airport in Turkey and more airlines are thinking to fly here,” Bashir told Malaysian journalists at a press conference prior to visiting the airport on Tuesday.

He said the airport handled 30 domestic and 71 international flights with 13.68 million passengers in 2011.

“We are targeting 16 million passengers this year and around 19 million passengers in 2013 as more airlines are deciding to fly here. To achieve our 25 million passenger target a year, we need the second runway to open by 2014. It would be possible to hit 40 to 50 million passengers a year,” Bashir said.

ISGIA, the second airport in Istanbul, is on the Asian side of the bicontinental city.

“We believe our investments in this concession will give us good returns. When we have reached 60 per cent to 70 per cent capacity, we will be making profits,” he said.

Bashir said it expects to recoup its portion of the investment within the next one to two years.

MAHB had paid the government ?76 million (RM302 million) last year and will pay the same amount this year.

MAHB expects to close 2 new deals by year-end
By Sharen Kaur Published: 2012/01/27
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120126234946/Article/

http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/20120126234946/pix_topright

AIRPORT operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) expects to close two new airport concession deals in Asia by the year-end in a drive to improve its earnings from overseas, its chief said.

Managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said MAHB is in preliminary discussions with local parties in China and Indonesia to form a consortium and bid for airport concessions in the two countries.

Bashir declined to reveal the parties involved. It is learnt that MAHB may rope in India’s GMR Group as its consortium partner. MAHB has been partnering GMR since 2002.
Its most revent tie-up with GMR is to develop and manage a resort terminal in Maldives, which is set to be opened in 2014.

The two are managing and developing three other airports internationally.

Bashir said as more and more airports get privatised, established airport operators like MAHB as well as those managing Changi and Frankfurt airports are looking at opportunites to be involved in the management and development of airports overseas.

“There is big potential in China and Indonesia and we are looking at growth in those areas. There are many airports that need upgrading. We think we could close two airport deals by year-end,” he said.

On funding for the potential concessions, Bashir said MAHB will use internally-generated funds. “The value is in the equity when you invest in an asset and we believe investing in airport concessions is a good deal although there is a long gestation period,” he told Business Times during a visit to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Turkey on Tuesday.

“We think having two more airport concessions in our portfolio will be good for us. We are not looking at over-stretching ourselves and be debt-laden,” Bashir said.

MAHB, together with its consortium partners, currently holds four airport concessions overseas. They are Sabiha Gökçen, MALE International Airport in Maldives, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad and Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India.

Among the four concessions, the airports making profits now are Rajiv Gandhi and MALE. Collectively, they are contributing less than eight per cent to group earnings, Bashir said.

He said MAHB is aiming for double-digit earnings’ contribution from its overseas operations within the next one to two years.

For the nine months ended September 30 2011, MAHB posted a net profit of RM278.2 million on revenue of RM1.92 billion.

2011 airports' passenger traffic up 10.6pc
Published: 2012/01/30
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120130185349/Article/index_html#ixzz1kwVjusN2

PUTRAJAYA: Passenger traffic at the country's airports last year rose 10.63 per cent to 65.343 million passengers, from 59.065 million passengers in 2010.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the increase was the second consecutive double-digit annual growth, with the 2010 figure 12 per cent over that of 2009.

He said the country's security and stability contributed to last year's good performance, which surpassed the ministry's target of 62 million passengers.

The growth was also encouraging as it came amid economic uncertainty in Europe and the United States in the last few years, he said.

"It shows the country was growing quite well and on the right track," he told reporters at his office here today.

Kong said the ministry targets passenger traffic to grow only five per cent this year amid the global economic uncertainty, especially in Europe and America.

He said last year, international passenger traffic grew 10.03 per cent to 30.89 million passengers, from 28.007 million in 2010, while domestic passenger traffic rose 10.9 per cent to 34.454 million, from 31.056 million.

Last year the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) handled 37.700 million passengers, followed by the airports of Kota Kinabalu (5.809 million), Penang (4.6 million) and Kuching (4.287 million).

Other airports handling over a million passengers were Miri (1.857 million), Langkawi (1.504 million), Johor Baharu (1.338 million), Sibu (1.133 million), Kota Baharu (1.132 million) and Subang (1.320 million).

On PJ Utara MP Tony Pua's allegation in a news portal today that the construction cost of the West Coast Expressway had escalated from its original estimate of RM3.015 billion, Kong said the project was planned a long time ago.

Kong said the expressway was long overdue and it was very important to implement the project immediately in order to stimulate the economies of the states involved, adding if it was not implemented now, the cost would escalate further in future. - Bernama

MASkargo aims for RM2.4b revenue in 2012
Published: 2012/01/30
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120130165442/Article/index_html#ixzz1kwWdpFwM

SEPANG: MASkargo Sdn Bhd aims to achieve RM2.4 billion in revenue this year despite weak growth in the industy which has been affected by an uncertain global economy, its acting chief executive officer Mohd Yunus Idris said.

The company, which recorded slightly over RM2 billion in revenue last year, expects to generate more sales particularly from the intra-Asian market while optimising its operating cost.

"We will expand our market within Asia and enhance our sales strategy in Europe and Australia," he told reporters at a celebratory luncheon for its third Airbus A330-200F, here today.

He said the plane would be serving in its three primary Asian routes, namely Pudong, Jakarta and Sydney.

"If things are moving very well, we might be flying to Surabaya by the end of this month. So, the route will be from Australia to Surabaya and back to Kuala Lumpur," he said. - Bernama

5 International Airports the First in Asia to Receive SMS Certification
Oct/20/2009

SEPANG, 20 October - With the successful certifications of five international airports in Malaysia, Malaysia Airports is aiming to get the domestic airports under its management to obtain the Safety Management System (SMS) certifications soon.

Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports said: "We are very pleased to have all five international airport to be SMS certified, making these airports amongst the earliest to achieve the certifications, and the first in the Asia region. Next in the pipeline is to have another five domestic airports to be SMS certified - Bintulu, Tawau, Miri, Sibu and Terengganu in the year 2010."

Tan Sri Bashir added: "The SMS certification is a testimony of our initiatives to ensure the highest level of safety at our airports and to fully comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Safety Management Program."

KL International Airport (KLIA), Penang International Airport, Langkawi International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Kuching International Airport had to undergo an audit by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to achieve this certification. Apart from the audit, the airports have also completed specific documentation for submission to DCA.

The SMS indicates conformance to all safety requirements and achieving continuous improvement in safety performance. These include the essential features of safety such as policy, strategy and planning and implementation as well as promotion, records, staff training and competency.

It also certifies that the airports have successfully implemented the 'Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) while the listing of Acceptable Level of Safety (ALOS) has conformed to the requirements of the DCA.

Y.Bhg. Dato' Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, DCA's Director General, in his speech said: "With the certification, we can demonstrate to the world that our airports placed importance to safety, and I hope the airports will continue to maintain the highest level of safety measures. These airports will continue to undergo Annual Scheduled Inspections to ensure that the requirements of the certification are continuously met."

Malaysia Airports are always committed to ensure good safety management. This is shown through the establishment of a safety office, joint efforts with risk management and the business continuity programme, blending and complying with Occupational Health and Safety requirement.
2011 airports' passenger traffic up 10.6pc
Published: 2012/01/30
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120130185349/Article/index_html#ixzz1kwVjusN2

PUTRAJAYA: Passenger traffic at the country's airports last year rose 10.63 per cent to 65.343 million passengers, from 59.065 million passengers in 2010.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the increase was the second consecutive double-digit annual growth, with the 2010 figure 12 per cent over that of 2009.

He said the country's security and stability contributed to last year's good performance, which surpassed the ministry's target of 62 million passengers.

The growth was also encouraging as it came amid economic uncertainty in Europe and the United States in the last few years, he said.

"It shows the country was growing quite well and on the right track," he told reporters at his office here today.

Kong said the ministry targets passenger traffic to grow only five per cent this year amid the global economic uncertainty, especially in Europe and America.

He said last year, international passenger traffic grew 10.03 per cent to 30.89 million passengers, from 28.007 million in 2010, while domestic passenger traffic rose 10.9 per cent to 34.454 million, from 31.056 million.

Last year the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) handled 37.700 million passengers, followed by the airports of Kota Kinabalu (5.809 million), Penang (4.6 million) and Kuching (4.287 million).

Other airports handling over a million passengers were Miri (1.857 million), Langkawi (1.504 million), Johor Baharu (1.338 million), Sibu (1.133 million), Kota Baharu (1.132 million) and Subang (1.320 million).

On PJ Utara MP Tony Pua's allegation in a news portal today that the construction cost of the West Coast Expressway had escalated from its original estimate of RM3.015 billion, Kong said the project was planned a long time ago.

Kong said the expressway was long overdue and it was very important to implement the project immediately in order to stimulate the economies of the states involved, adding if it was not implemented now, the cost would escalate further in future. - Bernama
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Sepang, Selangor
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Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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Penang International Airport
Bayan Lepas, Penang
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Kuching International Airport
Kuching, Sarawak
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Miri Airport
Miri, Sarawak

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Langkawi International Airport
Langkawi Island, Kedah
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Langkawi Airport (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33027605@N00/4876624791/) by tekbassist (http://www.flickr.com/people/33027605@N00/), on Flickr

Senai International Airport
Johor Bahar, Johor
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Sibu Airport
Sibu, Sarawak
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Sultan Ismail Petra Airport
Kota Bharu, Kelantan
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Subang Airport
Subang, Selangor

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Sibu Airport, Sarawak
http://borneotip.blogspot.com/2012/01/up-coming-sibu-new-airport.html

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MAHB wins PATA's exceptional service award
Published: 2012/04/24
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120424115050/Article/index_html

The PATA Aviation Committee presented the "Exceptional Service to Aviation" award to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad at the PATA Board meeting in Kuala Lumpur on April 20.

The award recognised that Malaysia Airports operated its airports as a profitable and self-sustaining business.

In a statement today, Bashir said airports must be profitable, provide continuous extra capacity for expansion, work closely with airlines and always reinvest in development.

The committee noted Malaysia Airports’ contribution in facilitating the phenomenal growth of low-cost travel, with the company currently constructing KLIA2 for Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) here.

KLIA2 will be the world’s largest purpose-built terminal for LCCs, with the capacity to serve 45 million passengers annually, spur local economic growth and create employment opportunities.
--BERNAMA

Kerteh Airport, Terengganu
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5265/5727707391_dddf115d55_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/oom_tommy/5727707391/)
the air strip, found it (http://www.flickr.com/photos/oom_tommy/5727707391/) by tomzcafe (http://www.flickr.com/people/oom_tommy/), on Flickr
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first firefly came at kerteh airport (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhs_aviation/5715006869/) by MHS AVIATION SDN BHD KERTEH AIRPORT (http://www.flickr.com/people/mhs_aviation/), on Flickr
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2364/5715002535_4ce7c67a47_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhs_aviation/5715002535/)
DANGEROUS LANDING AT KERTEH AIRPORT AFTER RAIN (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhs_aviation/5715002535/) by MHS AVIATION SDN BHD KERTEH AIRPORT (http://www.flickr.com/people/mhs_aviation/), on Flickr
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/pakcikrahmat/4071649805/
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/7067371549_6f34f6760c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhs_aviation/7067371549/)
MALAYSIA ARMY PARAJUMPING AT KERTEH AIRPORT 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhs_aviation/7067371549/) by MHS AVIATION SDN BHD KERTEH AIRPORT (http://www.flickr.com/people/mhs_aviation/), on Flickr

EUROCOPTER
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