MAB has big plans ahead for LCCT

[Naim 6]

THE STAR

Wednesday December 20, 2006

 

MAB has big plans ahead for LCCT

 

By GEETHA KRISHNAN

 

MALAYSIA Airports Bhd (MAB) has a tough job. After all, it operates 39 airports in Malaysia, including the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT-KLIA) in Sepang. When common problems faced by air travellers, visitors and staff at the terminal were highlighted recently, MAB didn’t take cover. Instead, it decided to address the issue with MAB senior general manager for operations Datuk Azmi Murad having the answers.

 

MALAYSIA Airports Bhd (MAB) looks at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT-KLIA) as a Malaysian product that isn’t there yet. It has room for improvement and progress. MAB senior general manager for operations Datuk Azmi Murad explains.

 

Star Metro (SM): What was the basis behind LCCT-KLIA’s deisgn?

 

Azmi: IT was constructed based on what was required of a low-cost carrier terminal. Many rounds of discussions were held with low-cost airline operator AirAsia to ascertain precisely what was required.

 

The LCCT fits into the business model of a low-cost carrier terminal. Prior to construction, we visited the Hahn Airport in Germany and Luton Airport in the UK as well as several LCCTs in the United States to gain a better perspective.

 

The purpose-built terminal took nine months to build and cost RM108mil. It has a built-up area spanning 35,292 sq m with 28,000 sq m dedicated to the passenger level.

 

Four airlines operate out of LCCT, namely AirAsia, Thai Air Asia, AWAIR and Cebu Pacific, the first foreign-owned low cost carrier to utilise the terminal.

SM: What is the current capacity of the LCCT?

 

Azmi: The LCCT was built for 10 million passengers per annum and since opening this year, five million travellers have passed through its doors.

 

We have plans to expand the terminal to accommodate an additional five million travellers. If, in future, the number of travellers increases further, we will look for another terminal. We have the space.

 

SM: Travellers often complain about the lack of seats. Is MAB planning to increase the number of seats in the waiting area?

 

Azmi: We began with 1,200 seats and eventually increased to 1,800 seats - 800 for domestic departure, 600 for international departure and 400 for the public area. An additional 100 seats have been placed at the common area outside the terminal.

 

There are 1,500 trolleys for the LCCT and we view this as sufficient as KLIA is equipped with 4,900 trolleys for 25 million passengers.

 

SM: Is there a shortage of electronic display boards at the LCCT? Why are white boards being used?

 

Azmi: MAB uses white boards to aid the airlines.

 

Say a flight from Bangkok lands and the same aircraft is headed for Penang later. To save time, the aircraft will land at the domestic bay but international passengers will pass through a special gate at the domestic arrival lounge, leading to the immigration counters.

 

Similarly, another special gate is available for domestic passengers near the immigration counters. We have made arrangements with the immigration for nine such flights daily.

 

Information for these special flights is written on white boards for the benefit of those picking up friends and family.

 

MAB will also install monitors to display flight information at departure gates to avoid confusion especially for transit passengers.

 

SM: Passengers have to use an uncovered walkway from the tarmac to aeroplanes. Any plans to address the situation?

 

Azmi: AirAsia made the request for a covered walkway only recently. Work will start for covered walkways between aircraft parking bays soon and will be completed in six months. We have provided 30 parking bays for aircrafts.

 

Once the covered walkway is complete, travellers will no longer need to use these umbrellas.

 

SM: Will there be a covered car park in future for the added convenience of travellers?

 

Azmi: Plans to build a multi-storey car park are under consideration.

 

SM: Is public transport sufficient?

 

Azmi: An airport shuttle plies between KLIA and the LCCT while 800 taxi permits were awarded for the terminal. City taxis are also allowed to send and pick-up passengers. Those using the ERL catch the airport shuttle from KLIA to the LCCT.

 

SM: How is MAB dealing with touts?

 

Azmi: We are serious in our efforts to get rid of touts both at KLIA and the LCCT.

 

There are more stringent rules now with Section 110A added to the Road Transport Act 1987, whereby touts fleecing passengers at airports, and bus and ferry terminals can face up to five years in jail, a fine of up to RM50,000 or both.

 

MAB is working closely with the police and the Road Transport Department and arrests have been made.

 

SM: Travellers from KLIA have to bring their heavy luggage with them on board the buses. Will inter-terminal baggage service be available in future?

 

Azmi: When the terminal began operations, MAB offered the use of four new buses to transfer passengers with heavy luggage between terminals but airline companies refused the offer. We are still willing to offer the service but arrangements must be made for baggage handlers.

 

SM: How is baggage pilferage being addressed?

 

Azmi: MAB has taken many measures to address baggage pilferage. We have increased the number of CCTVs, surveillance on staff and carry out random checks to curb pilferage. Any staff found in possession of pilfered items will be removed from the terminal grounds and his contract will be terminated.

 

SM: Are there plans to add F&B outlets at the LCCT? Travellers and staff say prices are steep.

 

Azmi: MAB has plans for a food court and it should be operational by the third quarter of next year.

 

Food prices have been brought down following feedback from travellers and staff. We ensure prices are the same or less than KLIA or KLCC.

 

Existing outlets also give discounts to staff.

 

SM: What about additional facilities in future?

 

Azmi: We hope to increase the number of duty-free shops and introduce a baggage-wrapping service. Shower facilities will be available in future along with a passenger lounge where travellers pay a fee to relax and enjoy food and drinks.

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?f...amp;sec=central

[Ewan Shamsudin 0]

I just hope that the general third-world outlook of the masses will also change for the better, alongside with the improvement in the LCCT.

 

"" I can almost imagine the state of the 'shower rooms' after some time

 

[Min Chun 0]

Azmi: AirAsia made the request for a covered walkway only recently. Work will start for covered walkways between aircraft parking bays soon and will be completed in six months. We have provided 30 parking bays for aircrafts.

 

Wow..Soon there will be covered walkways..

[Walter Sim 1]

how exactly does the covered walkways work i wonder?

 

I mean does the plane park beside the walkway?

[Rozhan 0]

Perhaps the departure hall could use some benches like at the bus stops, leading all the way to the departure gates. At least pax will not have to stand waiting to board the aircraft, even though their flight numbers have not being called!

 

At stations outside KUL, the mere sight of AK staff coming towards the gate will see passengers scrambling to line up (perhaps to get a window seat), even though the aircraft to fly them has yet to land.

[Naim 6]

LATEST DEVELOPMENT ...

 

 

January 24, 2007 19:48 PM

 

Immediate Need For Expansion At LCCT, Says Chan

 

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- The first phase of expansion of the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) will cover the departure and arrival halls as well as the apron area to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft for AirAsia X's long-haul operations.

 

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said there was immediate need for expansion as the LCCT was experiencing tremendous growth in passenger volume.

 

It is expected to handle slightly more than 10 million passengers this year. Last year, about 4.6 million travellers used the LCCT since it began operations on March 23.

 

"We have no choice but to expand the facilities of LCCT although it was built less than a year ago," he told reporters at his office here Wednesday.

 

"It has to be done in the next few months," Chan said, adding that the ministry was waiting for Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) to come back with the final details and costing for the proposed expansion project.

 

Currently meant for narrow-bodied aircraft, the apron when expanded, will enable the LCCT to cater for wide-bodied aircraft.

 

"I have been briefed by MAHB about the immediate needs of the LCCT in view of the increasing number of flights and the fact that AirAsia X will be operating its long-haul, low-cost operations in the second half of the year from the LCCT," Chan said.

 

The expansion will enable the LCCT to handle 15 million passengers annually from the current 10 million.

 

To a question, Chan said there was no need for the time being to expand the KL International Airport's (KLIA) main terminal which, together with the LCCT, handled 24.1 million passengers in 2006.

 

"With 4.6 million people using the LCCT last year, the main terminal did about 19.5 million only. So we still have some breathing space.

 

"It should be okay in the next four to five years," he said of the main terminal which was designed to handle 25 million passengers annually.

 

On the proposed rail link between the main terminal and LCCT, Chan said that its construction would start this year if everything went according to plan.

 

"The Treasury and Transport Ministry are finalising all the details. The construction of the rail link will take at least one year," he added.

 

-- BERNAMA

[kandiah k 0]

Lets hope they don't rush into expanding the terminal for glamour reasons.

 

Safety is always more important than glam and I think they didnt do a good

job with the current LCCT, which resulted in part of the roof top flying off

during the recent weather condition in December 2006. They should seriously

cater for the locals and not entirely on the foreigners i.e. pricing for food and

bev at the LCCT is just crazy expensive, lines are always not in order when the

terminal is crowded, esp in the mornings.

 

[Edwin Lau 0]

wow expanding again... hopefully the LCCT will be better improved then

[Fairul 0]

i have lots of photos of the roof top flying off in the office here..the MAB is still doing reports here and there regarding the case..

 

one question...is the terminal gonna be a permanent or temporary one..coz prior to the opening of the lcct..i remember Datuk Bashir mentioned that it will be a temporary terminal only...even the MAB big guns cant answer my question when i asked them..hehehe

 

oh yeah..they will build more parking space..which will be infront of the pos malaysia...and food court next to the lcct..

Edited January 25, 2007 by Fairul