BUDGET carriers AirAsia and AirAsia X have insisted on staying at the low-cost carrier terminal in Sepang after May 9 despite having been told that Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) low-cost terminal will cease operations following the opening of the klia2 on May 2.
The airlines want issues on safety and security at klia2 as well as the potential rise in airport charges and passenger service charge, which could raise the overall cost of travel, to be addressed before they relocated, The Star reported today.
LCCs currently operate at KLIA’s budget terminal that is scheduled to shut on May 9, one week after the new klia2 airport, which serves only budget airlines, is to open for business.
While the move was described as imminent by Aireen Omar, CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, she was quoted by The Star as having said: “We want to ensure our guests will have a seamless journey, without any disruptions that might potentially be caused by any periodic remedial measures undertaken by klia2.”
Meanwhile, Adam Kamal, general manager of Rakyat Travel said: “This issue has to be quickly resolved as it would cause confusion among travellers. Until this matter is resolved, we cannot confirm point of departure and arrivals for our fixed departures on AirAsia and AirAsia X.”
Ganneesh Ramaa, manager at Luxury Tours Malaysia opined that the AirAsia group should sit down at the table with Malaysia Airports Holdings to resolve issues for the benefit of travellers and the image of the country.
He added: “If it remains at the current low-cost carrier terminal, it would incur extra transportation costs for transit passengers and this runs contrary to the AirAsia’s brandingNow everyone can fly.”
