Welcome Back Subang Airport

[Naim 6]

Yes, welcome back, Subang airport!

 

+++

 

June 29, 2007 17:36 PM

 

Welcome Back Subang Airport

 

By Zulkiple Ibrahim

 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- Recently Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy announced that the Cabinet has allowed Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) low-fare subsidiary, Firefly, to operate from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SAAS) International Airport in Subang, located some 40 km from here.

 

The move has drawn all-round applause from the public particularly the airport's limousine drivers and the few shop operators who had decided to maintain their premises there.

 

Chan said the move is still within the government's earlier decision to allow only turbo-prop aircraft to operate at the SAAS airport.

 

At present Berjaya Air, fly travellers to several domestic tourist destinations in its turbo-prop Fokkers including Pulau Tioman and Langkawi from the airport while cargo carrier Transmile also operates from there.

 

As for Firefly, it is now operating from the Bayan Lepas International Airport in Pulau Pinang since April this year and serves four domestic routes -- to Langkawi, Kota Baharu, Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan as well as having flights to the Thai resorts of Koh Samui and Phuket.

 

LONGEST RUNWAY IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

 

The SAAS, was opened to air traffic in 1965.

 

Then known as the Subang International Airport, it boasted of having the largest runway in South East Asia, measuring 3.7 kilometres-long and 45 metres wide.

 

In the 1990s, the Subang airport had three terminals. Terminal One was for international flights. This terminal also had the Bunga Raya facility which was reserved for use by the country's Prime Minister and visiting heads of foreign nations.

 

Terminal Two was for the shuttle flights between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore while the Terminal Three catered to domestic flights.

 

By 1997, the airport had handled 15.8 million passengers. However it slowed down much of its operations a year later when the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang began its commercial operations on June 28, 1998.

 

In 2004, AirAsia's request to use the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport as a low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) was rejected by the Cabinet as the government planned to turn the airport into an International Conference Centre.

 

AirAsia, the country's first low-cost carrier, had started operations at the airport in 2002.

 

However the SAAS airport had a major blotch in its history as two major fires occurred towards the end of the airport's "service".

 

BANKS, BOOKSHOP

 

During its hey-days, there were three branches of the country's banking corporations -- Bank Rakyat, Maybank and Bumiputera Commerce, operating at the Subang airport apart from a bookshop, boutique as well as several other outlets including souvenir shops.

 

There were also a Pos Malaysia branch as well as a fast food joint.

 

After the move to the KLIA, many of these outlets ceased their operations as the number of airport users had dwindled drastically due to the absence of MAS and AirAsia flights. Only a few outlets remained steadfast including the bookshop and Pos Malaysia branch.

 

Out of the three banks, Bank Rakyat moved first, switching to the nearby flourishing neighbourhood of Subang Perdana.

 

Maybank followed suit early last year. Only Bumiputera Commerce, now known as CIMB Bank is still operating there.

 

LIMO DRIVERS

 

Those who appeared to benefit much by the government's move to allow Firefly to operate at the SAAS are the airport's limousine cab drivers.

 

"After the move from Subang to KLIA, there are so few people using this airport. To get RM30 a day is very difficult. Last time, RM150 is easily within reach," said SAAS limousine cab driver, 60-year-old Hussin Samat.

 

Hussin, who stays in the nearby Kampung Melayu Subang, said the switch to KLIA had greatly affected the livelihood of the limousine drivers.

 

"When SAAS was in full operations, there were so many limousine taxi users. Most of the times we have only to wait for a few minutes to get the passengers. Now we have to rely on tourists disembarking from Berjaya Air flights.

 

"But there are only two or at the most three flights a day and there are not many passengers too. Anyhow, a Berjaya Air Fokker aircraft can carry only a maximum of 50 people, just imagine how many passengers can we get a day," said Lim Kim Kee, another SAAS limousine taxi driver.

 

Hussin said many of the SAAS limousine cab drivers had decline the government's offer to allow them to ply city roads when the Subang airport wound down most of its operations in 1998.

 

He said, if they had agreed to the switch, it would mean shouldering extra financial burden as they had to acquire new cabs as they were not able to drive the limousines on city roads.

 

SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS

 

Wee Tien Swee, one of operators of seafood restaurants near the airport, also welcomed the good news.

 

"Business dropped drastically when they moved to KLIA in Sepang. Now with Firefly bringing in more passengers and tourists, we expect our business to pick up," said an overjoyed Wee.

 

For shopkeeper Masaun Sumiran, Firefly operating at SAAS means that the township of Subang Perdana would grow further.

 

"It is good for business, like restaurants, banks and hotels," the Aceh-born trader said.

 

-- BERNAMA

[H Azmal 0]

Jom spotting! I am now living in Sg Buloh, a mere few minutes from SZB, and I have already visited VBA.

[PC Yuen 0]

very good news indeed!!!! which reminds me I have to renew my SZB airport pass quickly ...heeeeee

[Gavin Andrew David 6]

Jom spotting! I am now living in Sg Buloh, a mere few minutes from SZB, and I have already visited VBA.

 

got photo?

[FK Wong 0]

this place is certainly gonna spice things up alittle around in subang and i believe that it most likely will have a great impact on AA if there is a consideration for those PJ folks to fly they would rather travel there and fly since it is more convenient and faster as well.what more when they even have frequent bas services to that airport now?

[Seng Lim 0]

what more when they even have frequent bas services to that airport now?

Already available & running for ages.

 

[FK Wong 0]

that place used to be served by metrobus and intrakota.but now they have rapidkl. moreover the government have a plan of extending the LRT all the way to SZB airport.who knows?

[BC Tam 2]

Yes, extend LRT to SZB (for a start) Then need to 'redevelop' terminal building to cater for increasing pax volume. Runway and taxiways will also need to be refurbished after all these years. Oh heck, might as well connect SZB to the KLIA Transit (is that its proper name ?!)

 

Barulah ada projek for all to nikmat !!

[H Azmal 0]

got photo?

 

[Radzi 2]

that place used to be served by metrobus and intrakota.but now they have rapidkl.

 

And SriJaya bus before that. Forgot the number but it goes to Kpg Subang.

 

[Samsyuri 0]

And SriJaya bus before that. Forgot the number but it goes to Kpg Subang.

 

47

[Radzi 2]

47

Ha ha ha ...... Orang lama....

[Jessnor Arif 1]

Yes, extend LRT to SZB (for a start) Then need to 'redevelop' terminal building to cater for increasing pax volume. Runway and taxiways will also need to be refurbished after all these years. Oh heck, might as well connect SZB to the KLIA Transit (is that its proper name ?!)

 

Barulah ada projek for all to nikmat !!

 

If I am not mistaken the proposed LRT extension is the Kelana Jaya Putra line. So it will be connected to XKL.