LOW-COST CARRIER TERMINAL & KLIA 2

[pedang]

IATA criticises different tax rates at budget airline terminals

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Air Transport Association on Monday criticised Malaysia's move to cut departure tax at its two budget airline terminals, saying it was discriminatory to other carriers and warning it could hurt tourism in the country.

In June, departure tax for international passengers at the Low Cost Carrier Terminals, or LCCT, in Kuala Lumpur and in Kota Kinabalu was dropped by up to 51 percent to RM25 (US$7.40; euro5.40).

The rate already incorporates security charges.

The rate for domestic flights was cut by 33 percent to RM6 (US$1.78; euro1.30).

At the Kuala Lumpur main terminal and other airports nationwide the departure tax for international passengers remains at RM51 (US$15.10; euro11.03).

For domestic travelers, the tax is RM15 (US$4.44; euro3.24).

The Geneva-based IATA, the governing body which regulates international air transport, said its member airlines have been dealt a cost disadvantage by the lower tax charges at Malaysia's LCCTs.

IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani has written to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to call for a level playing field for all airlines operating in Malaysia, the body said in a statement.

IATA member airlines account for 90 percent of Asia Pacific traffic and play a key role in Malaysia's economy through employment opportunities and the wider benefits of aviation and tourism, Bisignani said in the letter.

"The discriminatory charges scheme distorts competition and hinders the growth of IATA member airlines, resulting in sub-optimal benefits to Malaysia and a negative impact on efforts to promote tourism,'' he said.

Bisignani also said such discriminatory practice goes against the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization to which Malaysia is a signatory, and called for it to be immediately removed.

"All airlines and their passengers should be offered the same level of charges and incentives in order to maximize growth,'' he added.

Malaysia has said it cut the tax rates as part of efforts to become a regional hub for low cost carriers in Asia.

It hopes to woo more carriers to its low-cost terminals, which are currently used only by Southeast Asia's biggest no-frills carrier AirAsia and by the Philippines' Cebu Pacific.

Malaysia faces stiff low-cost airline and terminal competition from Singapore and Thailand. - AP

[TWK90]

Source : The Star
Link : http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story...257&sec=nation

New, bigger LCCT to be built

By V.P. SUJATA

PUTRAJAYA: A new and bigger Low-Cost Carrier Terminal for the KL International Airport will be built in three to four years' time as the current LCCT is nearing its full capacity of 10 million passengers a year.

The new terminal with the capacity to accommodate 30 million passengers a year will be located closer to the main terminal.

The Express Rail Link services, which were initially planned for the current LCCT would not proceed, as it would be connected with the new LCCT later.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced this after chairing the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Public Transportation here today. He said the current LCCT would undergo further expansion to increase its capacity to accommodate 15 million passengers annually.

"The Cabinet committee had agreed to the construction of the new LCCT and for immediate allocation for the expansion of the current LCCT which will soon reach its maximum capacity.

"The new LCCT will take three to four years to complete while the current one would be converted for some other use," he said, adding that low-cost carrier AirAsia would be operating the new LCCT.

The current LCCT, built at a cost of RM108mil started operations in March last year. Among the expansion plans for it are work on the arrival and departure lounges, and the carpark.

He said the plan for the new LCCT would be finalised in a month.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who was present at the meeting, said the current LCCT, which was designed as a warehouse, would be converted into a cargo terminal when the new LCCT starts operating.

He said although the Government anticipated the current LCCT would reach maximum capacity soon, they had to build it first before they could plan the bigger LCCT.

Najib also said that the Transport Ministry was taking steps to address complaints by the disabled community that RapidKL and Rapid Penang buses were not disabled-friendly despite their earlier appeals.

[triple-j]

really hope a very good design will be considered as it will be a permanent structure....

[Sheik]

The new LCCT terminal is going to cost $1.7 billion. Newspaper said 3-4 years to complete. They can fastrack it what. Sure no aerobridge one. It better have aerotrain to the KLIA main terminal.

[Arkdriver]

aiyo so expensive. Can build entire new airport for Penang

[nazrey]

Approval for new low-cost carrier terminal
Friday August 10, 2007
By V.P. SUJATA

PUTRAJAYA: A new and bigger low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) for the KL International Airport will be built in three to four years as the current LCCT is nearing its capacity of 10 million passengers a year.

The new terminal, which will be able to handle 30 million passengers a year, is to be located closer to the main terminal than the present LCCT.

Therefore, the Express Rail Link service, which was initially planned for the current LCCT, would not go on but would be connected to the new one instead.

In announcing this after chairing the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Public Transportation here yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the current LCCT would undergo further expansion to increase its capacity to accommodate 15 million passengers annually.

“The Cabinet committee has agreed to the construction of the new LCCT and for immediate expansion of the current LCCT,'' he said.

The current LCCT, built at a cost of RM108mil, started operations in March last year.

He said plans for the new LCCT would be finalised in a month.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who was at the meeting, said the current LCCT, which was first designed as a warehouse, would be converted into a cargo terminal when the new LCCT starts operations.

Najib also said that the Transport Ministry was taking steps to address complaints by the disabled community that RapidKL and Rapid Penang buses were not disabled-friendly.

Earlier, Najib also announced improvement to the public transportation system in Sabah and Pahang using funds from the Public Transport Trust Fund.

[nazrey]

New LCCT Will Be Built, Existing LCCT To Be Expanded, Says Najib
Updated : 09-08-2007


PUTRAJAYA, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- A new low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) will be built near the KL International Airport (KLIA) to accommodate 30 million passengers a year while the existing one there will be expanded to cater to an additional five million passengers annually.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today the location and allocations for the projects would be confirmed later.

"We need to expand the existing LCCT despite the building of the new LCCT because the new LCCT will take four years to complete," he told reporters after chairing the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Public Transportation here.

He said the existing RM108-million terminal, which was opened in March last year, was being operated at its almost full capacity of 10 million passengers a year.

The new LCCT would be connected by rail link as well, he said, adding that the present LCCT would not be wasted because it would be converted to other use once the new LCCT was ready.

Najib said the expansion of the present LCCT would include the apron area to cater to wide-bodied aircraft and the aircraft parking bay.

About 4.6 million travellers used the LCCT last year.

He said the construction of a new LCCT and expansion of the present one was not meant for AirAsia only as other low-cost carriers could also use the facilities.

On other matters, Najib said the cabinet committee approved the Sabah government's request to buy locomotives and build 30 level crossing at a total cost of RM72 million, of which RM50 million would be given as soft loan under the Public Transport Fund and the balance as grant from the federal government.

The committee also approved in principle a request to build bus terminals in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Kuantan, he added.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy told reporters later that the new LCCT would be located closer to the KLIA and would in fact be part of the KLIA.

[nazrey]

LCCT under MAHB
Tuesday August 14, 2007
By B.K. SIDHU
TheStar


PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is likely to add one more airport under its wings when the new low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) is up and running by the turn of the decade.

It may still be early days as details of the new LCCT – which will be housed next to the existing KL International Airport (KLIA) – will only be announced in a month’s time but, sources said, management wise, it would go to MAHB.

The Government announced last week that a new LCCT, that could cater up to 30 million passengers a year, would be built close to the KLIA at an undisclosed amount.

It is learnt that MAHB would not only just manage the airport but would also be involved in the construction by way of preparing all the ground work – from design to issuing out tenders – for the various jobs.

In any case, this new airport is a recommendation by MAHB and it only makes sense for the airport operator to be involved from the onset so that the airport shapes up to the way it had recommended.

In February, StarBiz reported that MAHB had recommended to the Government for a new LCCT to be built next to the present satellite and main terminal buildings at KLIA.

Unlike the existing LCCT, where linkages are only by road and air, the new LCCT will also be linked by rail as the Express Rail Link from KLIA and KL Sentral will be extended. The two airports will also be linked by a sky train.

Under the original master plan for KLIA, there should be ample land bank to house four satellite buildings, two terminal structures and five runways. If all the buildings are constructed, KLIA should be able to handle 100 million passengers a year.

Currently, AirAsia, its Thai and Indonesian subsidiaries, as well as Cebu Pacific Airways operate from the existing LCCT. Over the next few months, AirAsia X will begin flying long haul from the same terminal. More low-cost carriers are expected to use the new terminal.

Besides managing the KLIA and the current LCCT, MAHB manages 37 other airports in the country. It recently won rights to manage the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkey in a RM9.1bil deal and, prior to that, Astana International Airport in Kazakhstan. It is also involved in the management of Hyderabad and New Dehli airports in India.

Better times are ahead for MAHB that has waited for a long time for its financial restructuring to be completed. In fact, details of a new plan on how it should move to remove its overhang of the RM800mil it owes the Government are expected to be announced soon.

One clear sign that the financial restructuring is at its tail end is the offloading of its role in the Formula 1 championships to Khazanah Nasional Bhd in a deal valued at RM389.35mil.

Analysts are also taking a closer look at MAHB these days given its effort to get more business.

An analyst felt that MAHB would be better placed to drive through operational improvements with the financial restructuring overhang resolved as it would remove investors' concerns and allow for more earnings clarity, going forward.

[YeahWho]

I hope they will switch back to the use of aerobridge when it is built. I really hate walking under the hot sun or in the rain just for their sake of saving the little cost. Mr. Fernandez, please bear in mind that M'sia is a tropical country and it is not nice to force the travellers to sweat under the scorching sun or be drenched in the downpour just for walking from the gate to the plane. We only have dry and wet season in M'sia so the weather is definitely not suitable to have open air type departure. Also, there are a lot of flies in the plane and very annoying. I asked the FA why and she told me because LCCT is close to KLIA cargo which deals with animal/meat. So, I'm sure there are a lot of ppl like who are willing to pay RM 5-RM10 more for that to be switched back to aerobridge.

[Skyprince]

What's wrong with that ? I really like the open air connection to the plane like in LCCT compared to aerobridge in KLIA.

[Arkdriver]

alot of people like aerobridge but let's accept the way they do business. It save a lot when MAHB charge rm 35 for every usage of aerobridge. If you can afford extra rm 10-20, you should go for MAS instead.

[nazrey]

First budget hotel in airport
Updated : 16-08-2007
Media : The Star


KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will have the world's first budget hotel housed in an international airport when Tune Hotels.com ¡V the hotel chain of budget airline AirAsia ¡V opens in the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at KL International Airport next year.

The move will see Tune Hotels.com adding yet another hotel to its fast-growing chain, which already includes hotels in Johor, Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

Its deputy chief executive officer Mark Lancaster said in a press conference here yesterday that the hotel would offer a five-star sleeping experience at one-star price for the 20 million-odd passengers who transit at the LCCT each year.

¡§This is to fulfil the needs and to provide convenience for all low-cost carrier passengers, going with the theme of 'Now everyone can fly, now everyone can stay'.

¡§The new hotel will have 260 rooms on six floors, spread over more than 4,000 sq m. The ground floor will house the lobby and the rest will be taken up by renowned food and beverage retail outlets,¡¨ he said.

The event saw Tune Hotels.com and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) signing a memorandum of understanding with MAHB represented by its general manager of commercial services Umar Bustamam and Tune Hotels.com by its co-founder and director Dennis Melka.

Also present was Tune Hotels.com founder Datuk Tony Fernandes, who at a separate event earlier had launched AirAsia¡¦s new in-flight magazine named Travel 3Sixty.

The glossy 96-page monthly English magazine covers an array of topics including travel, entertainment, lifestyle and fashion.

Produced by an in-house team, the magazine is also aimed at being a platform to showcase AirAsia¡¦s extensive routes, services and fare promotions.

While it is currently only available on flights from Malaysia, Fernandes, also AirAsia Bhd group chief executive officer, said the magazine ¡§should also be available on flights from Thailand and Indonesia in about a month's time.¡¨

An online version of the magazine is also on the way.

[World 2 World]

Originally Posted by nazrey

First budget hotel in airport
Updated : 16-08-2007
Media : The Star


KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will have the world's first budget hotel housed in an international airport when Tune Hotels.com ¡V the hotel chain of budget airline AirAsia ¡V opens in the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at KL International Airport next year.

The move will see Tune Hotels.com adding yet another hotel to its fast-growing chain, which already includes hotels in Johor, Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

Its deputy chief executive officer Mark Lancaster said in a press conference here yesterday that the hotel would offer a five-star sleeping experience at one-star price for the 20 million-odd passengers who transit at the LCCT each year.

¡§This is to fulfil the needs and to provide convenience for all low-cost carrier passengers, going with the theme of 'Now everyone can fly, now everyone can stay'.

¡§The new hotel will have 260 rooms on six floors, spread over more than 4,000 sq m. The ground floor will house the lobby and the rest will be taken up by renowned food and beverage retail outlets,¡¨ he said.

The event saw Tune Hotels.com and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) signing a memorandum of understanding with MAHB represented by its general manager of commercial services Umar Bustamam and Tune Hotels.com by its co-founder and director Dennis Melka.

Also present was Tune Hotels.com founder Datuk Tony Fernandes, who at a separate event earlier had launched AirAsia¡¦s new in-flight magazine named Travel 3Sixty.

The glossy 96-page monthly English magazine covers an array of topics including travel, entertainment, lifestyle and fashion.

Produced by an in-house team, the magazine is also aimed at being a platform to showcase AirAsia¡¦s extensive routes, services and fare promotions.

While it is currently only available on flights from Malaysia, Fernandes, also AirAsia Bhd group chief executive officer, said the magazine ¡§should also be available on flights from Thailand and Indonesia in about a month's time.¡¨

An online version of the magazine is also on the way.

Where is the location? At the present LCCT or close to KLIA terminal?

[klbloke]

The Star Online > Nation

Thursday October 11, 2007



Long queues at LCCT


Jam-packed: AirAsia’s domestic and international counters are kept busy with the huge throng of passengers checking-in to get back home for Hari Raya.
SEPANG: It was a sea of people at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) which saw an 80% increase in travellers the past two days.

The queues were long as people waited to get on AirAsia flights to various destinations yesterday.

Many of them looked like they were returning home after a long stay in Malaysia. Many were carrying electrical items and large toys.

AirAsia has also increased flights to several popular destinations like Tawau, Sandakan, Phuket and Solo to cater to the increasing number of travellers.

A spokesman for the airline company said that some of the additional flights were fully booked.

[klbloke]

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LCCT 'bursting at the seams'
By Jennifer Gomez

15 November, 2007

SEPANG: The Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) here is bursting at the seams. The growing popularity of budget travel is taking its toll on the airport's facilities and services -- from the baggage screening as one enters the terminal building, the departure halls, and up to the collection of luggage on arrival.

With 25,000 passengers a day catching close to 200 flights, there are no distinct areas for the different processes passengers must go through -- it's a hodgepodge of people.

Hard to miss as one enters the terminal are the scores of passengers sitting on their trolleys because of the lack of seats in the main area.

Rashidah Majidi, 42, who was travelling back to Kuching with four of her children and three nieces, complained about the lack of seats at the airport.

"It's also very warm. Although my flight is at 5pm I came early because I didn't want to get stuck in the perpetual long queues here. It's so much cooler and more convenient at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport."

Indonesian medical officer Robby Nur Adieya, sitting on his trolley looking somewhat resigned as he waited for his flight to Jakarta, told the New Straits Times that he had been warned about the lack of seats at the LCCT by a colleague.

To ease the long lines at the check-in counters, AirAsia staff were conducting Personal Digital Assistant check-ins. A guest officer was also trying to get passengers to use the self check-in machines for those with no luggage.

The international departure hall was just as bad as hundreds of passengers squeezed into two lines in narrow aisles at each departure exit.

There was also confusion over which lines to join as several of the flight information displays were not working.

Adding to the congestion was the fact that not all facilities were fully utilised. Yet another line formed after passengers cleared Immigration and made their way to the X-ray screening security check-point.

Only two of the three checkpoints were manned.

The international flight arrival area was chaotic, and a number of passengers complained about the long wait to collect their bags.

Both the international and domestic departure halls have a single food and beverage outlet each, which were jam-packed.

Outside the terminal, the 1,100-bay car park was also a mess with cars parked indiscriminately.

A spokesperson for Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, which runs the terminal, said there were plans to expand the terminal while a new LCCT is being built nearer to the KLIA.


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[Skyprince]

In fact, that's the reason why I like LCCT very much compared to KLIA Scenes of a crowded terminal is already enuf to make my day But LCCT should improve services for the disabled and the elderly, my 77 y-old grandma didn't get the promised assistance on her flight to Alor Setar.

[klbloke]

[klbloke]

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AirAsia calls for better facilities at terminal
By Jennifer Gomez

16 November, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Tony Fernandes does not want marble floors, travellators or aero-bridges at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). The chief executive officer of AirAsia Bhd will settle for more seating, less passenger congestion, better flight information and more retail outlets.

He just wants LCCT operator, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), to improve facilities and services at the terminal.

Fernandes' comments come in the wake of a New Straits Times report yesterday that the LCCT was bursting at the seams with passengers generally unhappy with the situation.

"AirAsia passenger volume has grown from 200,000 five years ago to 18 million currently, and we are looking to hitting 30 million in five years.

"We are not small anymore and MAHB needs to keep pace with our growth and expansion," he added.

Fernandes said the recent accolade of being named Airline of the Year 2007 by the Centre of Asia Pacific Aviation was testimony to its rapid progress.

A MAHB spokesman had earlier indicated that budget airlines should not compare the LCCT to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), given its budget travel concept.

Fernandes said that while he did not expect the same standards at KLIA, the LCCT needed to offer an adequate number of seats, a flight information display system and more retail offerings.

"The MAHB must get the little details right. We are trying to get more retail outlets into the LCCT in terms of food and beverage and merchandising, but approvals are slow.

"With more retail offering, travellers would be able to walk around and shop as opposed to looking for places to sit."

Fernandes added that AirAsia fully subscribed to the logic of lower expectations.

But MAHB needed to lower its fees, both for airlines and passengers, he said.

"Using the same argument that we should not expect the services and facilities in KLIA, why then are the same charges levied on other airlines that use KLIA placed on us," he asked.

Fernandes is also concerned about the potential delay in MAHB's expansion plans for the terminal building, adding that AirAsia had made the request a year ago.

"We understand that the job (for the extension) has not been tendered out. What's more, the planned new and bigger LCCT will only be ready in 2014. By then, we would have lost our competitive advantage," he said.

Fernandes said the aviation industry the world over was making rapid progress and that competition was getting tougher.

"We are also creating spin-offs for other sectors in the economy. For instance, more businessmen are using our services now. This means that foreign companies would be prompted to set up regional offices here due to the ease and affordability of travel."

MAHB, when contacted, indicated that it would be coming up with a statement soon on issues raised.


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[fairul]

120 million budget has been allocated for the expansion of the current LCCT...work to start next year...

[Skyprince]

Eh, kan dia kata nak bina LCCT baru di sebelah KLIA MTB