KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has brushed aside AirAsia’s claims that the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 1 would not be able to accommodate their growth.
Commenting on this being one of the low-cost-carrier's reasons for not shifting operations from Terminal 2, MAHB senior general manager of operation services Datuk Azmi Murad said the Terminal 1 capacity is more than the actual total passengers volume last year for both terminals combined.
"The capacity for Terminal 1 is nine million passengers per annum (mppa) while the terminal's actual volume was 3.42 mppa in 2013 and 3.19 mppa last year.
"Terminal 2 where AirAsia is operating has a capacity of 2 mppa, but the actual passengers volume there has gone over the limit at 3.51 mppa in 2013 and 3.6 mppa last year. So the move is justified.
"For future growth, there are some lands surrounding KKIA including the cargo area, so that we can cater. It will still take six years at the growth rate of five per cent to reach the 9 million capacity," he said after the media walkabout at KKIA's Terminal 1 and 2.
Azmi said this to reporters following AirAsia's statement last month that it will not move to the main terminal despite the dateline given on August 1, citing various reasons including higher passenger service charge (PSC) at RM65 for international passengers compared to RM32 currently.
During the walkabout, he also highlighted Terminal 2's higher security risks due to 'clashing routes' of domestic and international arrivals.
"There is no mixing (of international and domestic arrivals) in Terminal 1 so there are lesser security risks," he said.
Asked what is the next move following AirAsia's stance, Azmi said they will wait for the Transport Ministry to hold a meeting with the airline but stressed that based on the numbers growing at Terminal 2, the low-cost-carrier need to shift operations.