JP\/16\/Airport<\/p>\n
KL to build second terminal as it gears to receive more airlines<\/p>\n
Associated Press
\nKuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
A second terminal will be built at the Kuala Lumpur International
\nAirport to accommodate rapidly growing passenger traffic, as at
\nleast four more foreign airlines including two Indian carriers
\nget set to fly to Malaysia, an official said.<\/p>\n
The existing terminal is nearing its capacity of 25 million
\npassengers annually and the new terminal will be able to cater to
\nan additional 25 million passengers, Bashir Ahmad, the managing
\ndirector of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd., told reporters late
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
Malaysia Airports Holdings is a government linked company that
\nmanages and operates all airports in the country.<\/p>\n
Construction of the new terminal will begin next year and will
\nbe completed by 2008 at a cost of 4 billion ringgit (US$1.05
\nbillion), Bashir said.<\/p>\n
The design of the new terminal will be similar to the present
\none with its tent-shaped white pavilions, and will be able to
\naccommodate the new superjumbo airbus A380 aircraft, Bashir said.<\/p>\n
The ultramodern KLIA, which opened in 1998 at a cost of 10
\nbillion ringgit, was supposed to have reached its 25 million
\npassenger capacity by last year, but the target couldn't be
\nreached because of the fall in tourism due to SARS and bird flu
\nhealth scares.<\/p>\n
But last year, KLIA reported more than 20 percent growth in
\narrivals to 21.1 million. The International Air Transport
\nAssociation forecast passenger traffic in KLIA to grow by at
\nleast 7 percent this year.<\/p>\n
The second terminal will be in addition to the 100 million
\nringgit low-cost carrier terminal that will be built at the KLIA
\nto cater to the boom in no-frills airline industries in the
\nregion, led by the successful AirAsia of Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The new projects are part of the strong growth in airport
\nbusiness in Asia.<\/p>\n
Singapore is adding a third terminal at its Changi airport
\nwhile Thailand is scheduled to inaugurate next year a new
\ninternational airport outside Bangkok to replace its aging Don
\nMuang airport.<\/p>\n
Bashir said that at least four and up to seven more foreign
\nairlines are expected to start flying to KLIA this year,
\nincluding Jet Airways and Sahara Airways from India, which have
\nconfirmed they will begin fights from the southern Indian cities
\nof Madras from April.<\/p>\n
Bashir did not name the other two airlines.<\/p>\n
\"In fact Jet Airways is now inquiring about setting up their
\noffice in KLIA,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A total of 46 airlines are currently operating in KLIA,
\nincluding China's Shenzhen Airline that started flying into KLIA
\nearly this year.<\/p>\n
\"We are a threat to everyone (other airports in the region).
\nWe have a huge potential for growth in both the domestic and
\noutgoing market. Tourism is coming in the country,\" he said.<\/p>",
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