KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah stands to lose millions of ringgit in tourist revenue should AirAsia be forced to relocate its operations to the main terminal at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) from its current location at the low-cost terminal.
Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Berhad, said that it did not make sense to move their operations as there were not enough facilities available at KKIA to cope.
He told reporters during a press conference last Friday that he was strongly against such a move as it would translate into higher fares and airport charges for passengers, and this would effectively limit the company’s ability to add new routes and new planes.
He suggested that Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) should instead move the present cargo area and allow AirAsia to expand its operations.
Fernandes said by adding just two more planes, they could add up to 800,000 passengers per year.
“This works. Six planes, millions of passengers – let’s expand it. As opposed to forcing us to move to a terminal where the cost is going to go up to RM51 (airport tax), the charges are going to go up because of aerobridges, and we’re going to have no parking and not enough check-in desks. It’s illogical to me. So, of course we’re against it.”
Fernandes said that it was more viable to expand the existing low-cost terminal operations as Sabah had much potential to cater to lucrative regional markets such as Japan, Australia, South Korea and China.
The need to expand comes at a time when Sabah is facing increasing competition from the Philippines as a regional hub for air travel.
Fernandes said that he was grateful to Sabah as the state was one of the first to offer support to AirAsia when they were still a fledgling airline company.
“Sabah is really our home in many ways. We wouldn’t be where we are without Sabah.
“Yet, rather than develop the KK low cost terminal, they want to close it down. I don’t understand. It’s one of the success stories of Sabah.”
Fernandes cautioned that if they were forced to move, AirAsia would drop its Jakarta-KK route and may have to cancel other routes as well.