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Naim

AirAsia wants to delay delivery of eight A320s in 2010

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Can somebody in the know explain what earthworks are ongoing at the aerotrain tracks near the satellite terminal? I didnt think this was for the new LCC-T as the latter is quite far away.

I am also as curious as you. Definitely not for the new permanent LCCT.

 

From Liewy of Skyscrapercity:

 

3842112574_50ac3fbddb_b.jpg

 

3842110648_483c967df2_b.jpg

 

Could it be some maintenance buildings? Additional apron space? Aerotrain related construction to the second Satellite Terminal?

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From the photo there is a bored piling machine and a crawler crane next to it (right bottom corner). To me it is more likely constructing foundation for some sort of structure above, not soil investigation works or ground treatment for apron. Could it be the extension of aerotrain to the new LCCT ?

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Now they are talking of commencement of construction in 2010 and completion in 2012. Looks like a more realistic timeframe than when they were claiming that they can do it in the time it takes to build KLIA East@Labu.

 

Actually this (unsuccessful) design looks like it is more expandable.

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I'm so so so lucky to have 9M-AHT for my LGK-KUL flight this afternoon. Beside the very new cabin smell, I caught this new 'stuff' on board. :D

 

IMG_4353.jpg

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new stuff applicable since AHS (GSM system onboard). but FYI, it's deactivated.

 

Believe GSM picocell is not available on all AK A320. Will AK permit pax to use or turn on handphone in non-GSM picocell aircraft? Will AK inform pax on the roaming charges?

 

If handphone can be used on AK, will MH still insist to turn off handphone throughout the flight?

 

:drinks:

Edited by KK Lee

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Well, to begin with, MH has been copying almost every single thing that AirAsia did (even up to the font and colour used for marketing campaigns).

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With regards to the new permanent LCCT, ERL also now confirmed their plan to extend the existing KLIA Express track by another 2 km direct to the new terminal from the Main Terminal Building.

 

Plan for 2km tracks from KLIA to new low-cost terminal

Published: 2009/09/14

 

EXPRESS Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERLSB) plans to lay 2km of railway tracks from the KL International Airport (KLIA) to the new permanent low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in Sepang to extend its rail services, its chief says.

 

ERLSB, majority controlled by YTL Corp Bhd, holds a 30-year concession to operate the KLIA Express and KLIA Transit rail services from KL Sentral in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, to KLIA.

 

Chief executive officer Noormah Mohd Noor said the extension of its rail services to the new permanent LCCT will boost passenger traffic by some 15 per cent to 4.2 million from 2011.

 

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), the main contractor for the new permanent LCCT, is targeting to complete the construction by the third quarter of 2011 at a cost of RM2 billion.

 

"We are in talks with MAHB and have submitted a proposal to them a few months ago to extend the rail line. We are fine-tuning the plan and the cost to lay the tracks," Noormah told Business Times.

 

ERLSB has 12 electric high-speed train sets for the KLIA Express, which runs from KL Sentral to KLIA in 28 minutes, and KLIA Transit, which stops at Bandar Tasek Selatan, Putrajaya and Salak Tinggi before heading to the airport in 35 minutes.

 

The KLIA Express and KLIA Transit carry a combine 3.7 million passengers a year currently.

 

The new LCCT terminal, which will be located to the west of the main KLIA terminal building with a distance of 1.5km, will be able to accommodate 30 million passengers per annum, with capacity for expansion of up to 45 million passengers a year.

 

Noormah said the company will launch on September 15 a temporary bus shuttle service from Salak Tinggi to the existing LCCT to promote its KLIA Transit service, while the new permanent LCCT is under construction.

 

"We are doing this to capture the LCCT market, which will be a new growth area for us," she said.

 

Noormah also said that ERLSB is offering VIP services, group discounts and giving one complimentary trip for every 10 trips bought up front.

 

The company has tied up with Amadeus, the world's biggest processor of travel bookings with a 29.2 per cent market share, to help sell its KLIA Express tickets.

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Actually KLIA Ekspress cannot afford to miss out on LCCT traffic because traffic to the main terminal has reduced considerably since the current LCCT was opened. That is why you can see so many busses operating out of LCCT now. But I wonder how many people will use the KLIA Ekspress if the fares are still going to be RM 35? Only those travelling alone might go on it. Families are better of taking taxis.

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AirAsia To Defer 8 Airbus Deliveries

 

October 5, 2009

 

Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia is to postpone delivery of eight Airbus A320-200 aircraft due in 2011, the Star newspaper reported on Monday.

 

"We will defer eight of the 24 deliveries for 2011," AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes was quoted as saying by the paper.

 

The aircraft will now be delivered in 2014, the paper said.

 

(Reuters)

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Does anyone know if work on the new, permanent LCCT has started? Looks like the MAHB are way behind schedule now!

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...

"We will defer eight of the 24 deliveries for 2011," AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes was quoted as saying by the paper.

...

 

Yeah, don't disturb me with my F1 toys!

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Does anyone know if work on the new, permanent LCCT has started? Looks like the MAHB are way behind schedule now!

 

 

Does that surprise you? I never for one believed the 2012 deadline was ever going to be met.

 

There are tree clearing works starting to happen next to the sewage treatment plant, last i passed by there two days ago. That should be the starting point right?

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Airasia Revises Delivery Of A320

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- AirAsia Bhd has signed an amendment agreement with European airplane maker Airbus to revise the delivery dates of eight A320 aircraft originally scheduled for delivery in 2011 to 2014 and 2015.

 

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia Thursday, the regional low-cost carrier said with the deferments, the original delivery of 23 aircraft in 2011 would be reduced to 15 aircraft.

 

The original number of deliveries in 2014 would also be increased to 24 aircraft from 18 aircraft while in 2015, the airline would take delivery of two aircraft as opposed to nil, it said.

 

No penalties are payable by AirAsia in revising the delivery schedule of the 2011 aircraft, it added.

 

AirAsia said the deferral of the 2011 aircraft was due to forecast infrastructural constraints with the current airport facilities.

 

It said that until the new low-cost carrier terminal was constructed, the present infrastructure at the low-cost terminal would not be able to accommodate AirAsia's fleet expansion in the number of aircraft originally scheduled to be delivered in 2010 and 2011.

 

The scaling down of the aircraft delivery in 2011 is to further enable AirAsia to optimise its fleet and avoid the costs associated with leaving idle or underutilised aircraft, thus avoiding incurring depreciation, interest expense and other costs without earning revenue.

 

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=451003

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AK is merely hiding behind the so called "lack of airport infrastructure" when the fact is they are not in a good financial health to take delivery of the new A320. Oh! Come on TF, cut the crap....

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AK is merely hiding behind the so called "lack of airport infrastructure" when the fact is they are not in a good financial health to take delivery of the new A320. Oh! Come on TF, cut the crap....

Much has been said about this already but I believe that AirAsia has demonstrated in its actions too.

 

They have deferred delivery of 16 aircraft while the new LCCT is being constructed. Other new aircraft that was originally due for AK are now going to FD to set up the Phuket hub. Do note that most of the A320 deliveries this year went to FD and QZ. Next year, FD will open another international hub at Chiangmai. AK itself has also mentioned it will send about 10 aircraft to Penang to open a new hub there.

 

Meanwhile D7 has opened Abu Dhabi virtual hub so that its aircraft are away from LCCT for longer.

 

All these measures, when taken as a whole, does indicate that the AirAsia management are doing something to ease the problem of lack of airport infrastructure. So they are not just talking, they are also acting.

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AK is merely hiding behind the so called "lack of airport infrastructure" when the fact is they are not in a good financial health to take delivery of the new A320. Oh! Come on TF, cut the crap....

 

Good point raised.

 

Lets be realistic. Look at their press release. 2 contradictory statements. Cut the talk of airport infrastructure. There are more airports out there in the world with poorer infrastructure but airlines are still coping so if the "best" airline of the year has problems with that does that mean other lesser airlines are rubbish? Come on...

 

I know there are many Air Asia fans in this forum but you can't hide all the facts under spin and lies. TF may have improved your country's aviation sector but then again no one is perfect.

 

....because of infrastructure constraints at its Kuala Lumpur air terminal.

 

Until a new Low Cost Carrier Terminal is constructed, the current overcrowded budget terminal will not be able to accommodate AirAsia’s fleet expansion plans, it said.

 

"AirAsia foresees infrastructural constraints with the current airport facilities," the airline said in a statement.

 

AirAsia in August cited a similar reason when it announced it would defer receiving eight A320 aircraft due in 2010 by four years.

 

Seems valid but look at the next point in the press release.

 

The decision to further scale down on deliveries will allow AirAsia to avoid the costs of having idle or under-utilised aircraft, it said.

 

Contradictory?

 

Go figure.

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Why is it contradictory? The KLIA LCCT has a maximum capacity of 15m pax. Right now, at 11m pax, people are already complaining about the LCCT's overcrowding at peak hours. If the terminal cannot handle to pax and aircraft movements, then AK will not be able to add more flights. That means that even if it has more aircraft, they cannot be deployed at LCCT because it cannot handle the volume of flights. As such AK will have to keep the planes in hangars and will incur storage costs.

 

It is a good thing AirAsia Group is not a govt. corporation. That means that it can make tough business decisions in a timely manner. It has a responsibility to the shareholders and to its customers. If they lose money, it will mean that they cannot continue offering low fares. They also cannot look to the govt. for bailouts if they fail. Taxpayers will be relieved to know that!

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AK is merely hiding behind the so called "lack of airport infrastructure" when the fact is they are not in a good financial health to take delivery of the new A320. Oh! Come on TF, cut the crap....

 

2011 is over one year from now, postponed of delivery has little to do with current financial health. AK growth rate can’t be straight line or rigid, need to adjust from time to time. If AK is expecting a slow growth next year, it is prudent to scale back the expansion.

 

:drinks:

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its more likely that AK was too ambitious when it ordered the many A320s a few years back - and in part perhaps the main LCCT congestion may have a part to play but it woundnt be because of it. As AK can grow its hub in Penang, and supposedly JB and other malaysian airports like KK and Kuching too toa ccomodate the new additional A320s. But likely AK cannot grow its routes to match the deliveries.

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