SEPANG: The redevelopment of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SAAS) Airport will not weaken the position of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 as the main airport hub in Malaysia.

Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke said the SAAS Airport or widely known as Subang Airport will be a city terminal that caters to a very niche market while KLIA Terminal 1 will remain as the main airport in the country. 

"It (Subang Airport) will not cannibalise KLIA Terminal 1 in any way. As far as our policy is concerned, we will do everything possible to ensure that KLIA Terminal 1 remain as the premier airport," he said. 

When asked to comment on Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail statement that the SAAS Airport will weaken KLIA Terminal 1's position, Loke said he did not think it was the right view, especially since Malaysia Airines was consulted before the business plan proposal for Subang Airport was finalised. 

Currently, the proposal for the redevelopment of SAAS Airport is being reviewed by the Ministry of Transport as well as other ministries for their feedback.

The redevelopment of SAAS, dubbed the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP) was announced by Loke in February this year.

The SARP will see the airport turn into a regional commercial and maintenance, repair and overhaul aviation hub that will have narrow-body aircraft operations again with a maximum capacity of eight million passengers a year.

On the current tensions between Malaysia Airlines and its in-flight caterer, Brahim's Holdings Bhd, Loke said he was briefed by Izham about the matter recently and it is up to the airline's decision on its next step. 

"I entirely leave it to them. For me, that is a commercial decision. What we want is the best service for our passengers."

"I'll leave it to the wisdom of the board of Malaysia Airlines to make the best decision for Malaysia Airlines," Loke said.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2023/06/924434/loke-redevelopment-subang-airport-will-not-weaken-main-airport-hub-klia