KLIA EXPECTED TO BE IMPORTANT AVIATION HUB FOR ASIA BY 2020

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), April 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's aviation
industry is expected to undergo rapid growth and the KL International Airport
(KLIA) will become an important air transport hub for Asia by 2020.

It is also expected to have the capacity to handle 67 million in passenger
traffic by that year.

Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri said this prediction is
based on a seven per cent annual increase in operations, a realistic
expectation, when taking into account the robust low fare aviation industry and
the encouraging economic prospects of the country and globally.

He added that until 2010, KLIA had handled 34.1 million passengers.

"The construction of KLIA2 is 31.7 per cent complete and expected to be
fully ready in September next year.

"KLIA's capacity will increase by 30 million more with the construction of
the new terminal, a new 3.69 kilometre and control tower as well as new
navigational equipment at an estimated cost of RM2.5 billion (US$0.83 billion),"
he said in a statement here Tuesday.

Abdul Rahim said the government’s investment in the sector is worthwhile and
can help lift Malaysia towards a high income economy and the status of a
developed nation by 2020.