ISTANBUL TERMINAL WITH MAHB'S EXPERTISE BEGINS COMMERCIAL OPERATION NOV 9

By Nasriah HJ Darus

ISTANBUL, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The new terminal at Istanbul's Sabiha
Gocken International Airport (SGIA), in which Malaysia Airlines Holdings Bhd
(MAHB) holds a 20 per cent stake, is expected to start its commercial operations
on Nov 9.

MAHB senior general manager of operations, Azmi Murad, said nine trials had
been conducted since Sept 26 involving ground handling, flight information
display, baggage system, communication systems and boarding gates and the
systems are ready.

"On Nov 9, we will operate the new terminal with only three airlines and we
will monitor the performance before deciding on the next phase of the
transfer," he told Malaysian journalists prior to the official opening of the
terminal this Saturday.

He said the present terminal handled 17 domestic and 51 international
flights with 6.1 million passengers this year.

"The full migration would be based on the performance on Nov 9 when we
commence first commercial operation here. We see how it performs. If eveything
is smooth, runs well, we will decide on that day, when to shift all the other
airlines operating in the current terminal to the new terminal," he
said.

Azmi said SGIA's growth rate between 2006 and 2009 was on an average of
about 30 per cent annually. The new terminal is expected to handle 25 million
passenger by 2023.

"As you are aware, Turkey has a very strong tourism product and their
economy are also very strong. I believe in matter of time the building will
reach its capacity. It is built to meet the future demand," he said.

MAHB is to provide expertise in the area of operation and management
of the airport, he said.

Azmi said MAHB had assigned a number of its experienced personnel to the
SGIA to assist in the operations, technical and financial matters of the
airport.

MAHB has paid about RM80 million (US$22.8 million) for it 20 per cent stake
in the project, RM25 million (US$7.14 million) of which was settled in 2008.

SGIA, the second airport in Istanbul, is on the Asian side of the
bicontinental city.
The airport covers an area of 3,300 acres and its development comprises the
construction of a new terminal building with a total area of 180,000 sq m. The
development work also included a four-storey car park building with 4,718
parking lots and a six-storey hotel.
-- BERNAMA