Low-cost terminal not just for AirAsia: Minister

THE low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang built in 2005 is for the use of all low-cost airlines and not just for AirAsia, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Kiat said the government decided to build the LCCT after considering several matters, including the need for such airlines to have a short turnaround time of 20 minutes which is difficult to realise at KLIA’s main terminal.

Besides, the operations of these airlines do not require many facilities that are needed by full-service airlines, such as aerobridges and airline lounges, he added.

The LCCT construction also helps overcome passenger congestion at peak periods at arrival counters, departure halls and parking lots, he said when replying to Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) during Question Time.

"At present, low-cost airlines such as AirAsia X, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia, Cebu Pacific and Tiger Airways also use the LCCT at KLIA,” he pointed out.

Ong also disclosed that due to the urgent need for the LCCT, its construction was awarded on a direct negotiation basis to Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd which had the necessary experience.

"There is not enough space to expand the present LCCT to cater to more than 15 million passengers a year, so the government has short-term plans to build a new LCCT at a new site at KLIA,” he added.

The existing LCCT, according to him, will be converted at a reasonable cost into a cargo complex. — Bernama