All set for klia2’s historic opening on May 2

by **Cals** Sat 26 Apr 2014, 18:16

Business & Markets 2014

Written by Cynthia Blemin of theedgemalaysia.com

Friday, 25 April 2014 13:17

SEPANG: The world’s largest low-cost terminal, klia2, is set to open next Friday as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has confirmed its operational safety and that planes are ready to land and take-off from the airport’s three runways.

The first aircraft is expected to land at klia2 on the morning of May 2, with 56 movements (landings and take-offs) expected on that auspicious day.

Yesterday saw the handing-over ceremony of the air traffic control tower (ATCT) by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters after witnessing the handing-over ceremony that klia2 will be officially launched on June 2, a month after the soft opening on May 2.

“The ICAO has given the nod that confirms klia2 is safe and complies with international standards,” he said, noting that the ICAO report was presented to the Cabinet on Wednesday.

The ICAO is an international body that looks into the safety of airports around the globe.

Hishammuddin said he will be at klia2 at midnight on May 2 “to ensure that it is operational from day one”, adding that the low-cost carrier terminal has received all the necessary certifications including the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC).

klia2 has been shrouded with controversies due to its escalating costs and missed opening deadlines since September 2011, with the last scheduled opening supposed to be on April 30 this year. A week after klia2 begins operations on May 2, the current low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) will be closed.

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Azharuddin (left) receiving the ‘CCC Tower West Certificate’ from MAHB chairman Tan Sri Dr Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah, witnessed by Hishammuddin (second from left) and Bashir during the handover of klia2 ATCT to the DCA.

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MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid, who was also present at the handover ceremony of the ATCT, said the number of aircraft movements will be bumped up to over 400 from May 9.

Sources said AirAsia, which will be the biggest user of klia2, will start testing the runways with its aircraft today. Apart from AirAsia, the other airlines that will have a presence in klia2 are Malindo Air, Cebu Pacific Air, Tiger Airways Singapore, Lion Air, and Mandala Airlines.

Meanwhile, DCA yesterday declared that the RM55 million air traffic control tower at klia2, called “Tower West”, as the tallest in the world. Standing at 141.9m tall, it has overtaken the 132.2m-tall air traffic control tower at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand.

Its director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said that it took 10 months to complete the tower, adding that klia2 has set a new aircraft landing and take-off procedure.

“All airlines have to comply with this new procedure that we have designed and the airlines have taken note of it a month ago.”

Azharuddin said klia2 has marked a new milestone with the introduction of the third runaway. “We are the first in Asean to have a three-runway system,” he added.

Earlier, guests and journalists watched the simultaneous landing of two Malaysia Airlines aircraft, MH402 and MH604, on runway two and runway three of klia2.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 25, 2014.
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