LOW-COST CARRIER TERMINAL MAY BE BUILT IN PERAK

SEPANG (Malaysia), Jan 14 (Bernama) -– A low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT)
may be built in Perak to fuel its economic growth and development of the
Northern Corridor Economic Region.

Chief Minister Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said several rounds of
discussions have been held with the low-cost carrier AirAsia.

“I hope the proposal will be forwarded to the federal government for
consideration. However, the idea is still at initial stage. We've to study it
from all aspects.

"However, early planning has already started. It's only a matter of time
before we formally propose to the federal government to study the proposal in
greater detail on the suitability and viability of a new airport.

“It all depends on the Federal Government on what it has to say about it,”
he
told reporters after accompanying the Sultan of Perak, Sutan Azlan Shah, who
visited the LCCT, AirAsia office and the airline's academy here.

Dr Zambry said a prospective site has been identified at the corridor
region in northern Perak.

“It is not at the existing airport. It's difficult for us to expand the
existing airport because Ipoh and the surrounding area are already quite
congested as well.

"It's very much developed. We've no choice. We've to look for a new area.
We've already proposed to AirAsia several locations and they have also send
their team to study the locations and have decided on the area,” he said.

On the state government's role in building the LCCT, Dr Zambry said the
state
government would facilitate all the processes.

Dr Zambry said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, operator of the country's
airports, has been informed of the proposal.

“We will bring them together at this stage because we would like to
also hear from them, he said.

Asked on the purpose of today’s visit, Dr Zambry said: “We just want to get
ourselves familiar with the LCCT. That’s all.”

Meanwhile, AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said
having a LCCT in the north was one of the opportunities for the airline.

"That is one opportunity but it is still at a very early stage. Obviously,
we have been always looking at something up north and how it turns up.

“We've always said we need a low-cost airport or a terminal in the north.
We always believe in that strongly,” he said.

Fernandes said a low-cost airline could provide tremendous growth to the
northern corridor.

“We've always said there should be a LCCT in the north if you really want to
provide economic development but it's really up to the government.

“We see it as an opportunity. It's a tremendous opportunity, especially with
the entry point projects under the Economic Transformation Programme…for
something to serve the north,” he said.

Asked whether AirAsia would build its own airport in the north, Fernandes
said: “No. AirAsia is an airline. We will focus on moving people from A to B and
that's our job. It's not our job to build airports."

-- BERNAMA