Now Fernandes wants his own airport
KUALA LUMPUR – Low cost carrier AirAsia will move to its own US$460 million airport outside Kuala Lumpur, and abandon its overcrowded terminal next to the main KLIA international airport.
AFP said the move has thrown into doubt the national airport operator’s plans to build a new Low Cost Carrier Terminal next to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), to replace the existing facility that opened in 2006.
“The new airport, which will be known as KLIA East, will provide more capacity for aircraft and passengers, and enable us to bring down fares,†Fernandes said, indicating that costs could be lowered by 30 per cent.
Fernandes rejected criticism that KLIA has more than enough capacity to handle AirAsia’s growth plans
“I think we know what we need, we are not silly,” he said. “There is nothing here (at the old terminal) to add value to our passengers. Allow us to take our destiny in our own hands.â€
Fernandes said the new airport would be exclusively for AirAsia, and designed to handle up to 30 million passengers annually. Construction could begin within six months with a completion date of March 2011.
The airport would be linked by new train and road links, and be about 30 minutes’ drive from the city centre – less than the journey to KLIA.
Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby had said it has won government approval to begin the project, which is to be the centrepiece of its new development at Labu in Negri Sembilan state.
“We have a fantastic partner, it will enhance tourism. We will also have a theme park, it will be like Orlando airport where Disneyland is located,†Fernandes said.
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