MALAYSIA’S new low-cost carrier (LCC) terminal klia2, which can handle three times the capacity of the previous LCCT, has been built to support projected air travel growth for the next 10 to 15 years.
Expected to receive 25 million passengers by year-end, klia2 has the capacity to handle up to 45 million passengers annually.
At the official launch of klia2 yesterday, prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Abdul Razak, said: “This purpose-built terminal, a mega-structure in its own right, will provide the needed impetus for the continued growth of our economy.
He added that the aviation industry is a focus area in the 2014 national budget and that the government has allocated RM1 billion (US$311.2 million), of which RM700 million will be for the development of a new air traffic management centre at KLIA to facilitate traffic increase from 68 to 108 movements per hour on three runways.
The remaining RM300 million has been allocated for nationwide airport upgrades.
At the launch, klia2 was officially inducted into the Malaysia Book of Records for its “biggest purpose-built terminal for LCCs and first airport terminal sky bridge”.
The 257,000m2 terminal 2km from KLIA’s main terminal building features easy inter-terminal transfers and better connectivity for full-service and low-cost airlines operating from the two terminals.
