MAHB IN TALKS ON AIRPORT MANAGEMENT IN MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Airport operator Malaysia Airports
Holdings Bhd (MAHB) hopes to conclude talks with two parties in the Middle East
and Africa on the possible management of airports, by the first quarter of next
year, said its managing director Bashir Ahmad.

"The discussions have been ongoing for the past six months and we hope it
will be concluded soon, probably, by the first quarter next year," he
told a media briefing on the 19th Airports Council International (ACI) World
General Assembly here Monday.

MAHB will host the ACI World General Assembly from Nov 2-4. The event will
witness the gathering of about 600 delegates from airport and related
industries.

MAHB currently manages and operates 39 airports -- five international, 16
domestic and 18 short take-off and landing ports.

Bashir said the company is always looking for new opportunities in countries
closer to home like India, China and the Middle East.

MAHB has operations at present in India and Turkey.

He said the upcoming ACI conference next month would be a good platform for
networking and an opportunity for airport operators, including MAHB to see
"which airports are up for privatisation as well as management."

The ACI Asia-Pacific conference will also be held at the same time.

Bashir,the vice-president of the ACI Asia-Pacific Board, said the
conference will feature renowned industry specialists who will speak on aviation
related topics such as airport economics, industry trends and human capital.
-- BERNAMA