MAHB saves RM104m without aerobridges

SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's (MAHB) decision not to build aerobridges at the new Low-Cost Carrier Terminal, KLIA 2,
will save it up to RM104 million.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Aris Othman, said the money was for building 80 aerobridges at 68 gates in the terminal, which cost RM1.3 milion each.

"Of course, we need aerobridges. At this juncture, AirAsia, the main user of the terminal, does not want the aerobridges," he told Bernama after attending the graduation ceremony for assistant aviation security personnel here today.

At the ceremony, 454 assistant aviation security trainers graduated after a six-month training, increasing MAHB's aviation security staff to 3,100.


Aris said when building a new airport, from the convenience, safety and security views, aerobrigdes should be installed.

However, considering AirAsia wouldn't use them, they could be a waste, he said.

Yesterday, MAHB announced that it would not build the aerobridges at the KLIA 2 to acede to AirAsia's request as its business model required a quick turnaround time in order to increase aircraft utilisation.

The terminal will be constructed without the aerobridges; instead ramps will be provided.

The initial cost to build KLIA 2 was RM2 billion and was expected to be completed in the second half of this year; it will have the capacity to handle 30 million passengers a year.

Meanwhile, Aris said, for other low-cost airlines which needed to use aerobridges, they could use the main terminal apart from the KLIA 2.

"Eventhough they are low-cost airlines, some of them use aerobridges. If KLIA 2 didn't have them, they can use the main terminal," he said. - Bernama