By Sharen Kaur
KUALA LUMPUR: Two more regional airlines are expected to begin flying to SkyPark Terminal at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SAAS) in Subang this year, sources said.
Business Times understands that the two airlines from Indonesia and Thailand, which operate turboprops, are set to fly there in the second half of the year.
Wings Air, a unit of Indonesia’s PT Lion Group, is one of them, say the sources.
They also said the airlines are now talking to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and Subang SkyPark Sdn Bhd (SSSB) for parking and landing rights.
Wings Air earlier planned to fly to Subang next year but changed its plan to ride on Asia-Pacific’s passenger growth.
“SkyPark Terminal is now a vibrant aviation centre. Its parking and landing charges are among the lowest,” said a source.
“SSSB is charging hangar space of about US$2 (RM6.50) per sq ft. Operating costs are also the lowest in terms of support staff and facilities.”
To date, regional airlines such as FireFly, Malindo Air and Berjaya Air have made SkyPark Terminal their base.
Thai Lion Air, a sister company of Malindo Air (jointly owned by Lion Group and Malaysia’s National Aerospace and Defence Industries), will fly to Subang this month.
The no-frills carrier will offer four weekly flights between Subang and Hat Yai starting March 21.
SSSB, meanwhile, holds a 59-year MAHB concession for SkyPark Terminal (formerly Terminal 3), starting 2008.
Based on data released by the International Air Transport Association (Iata), Asia-Pacific passenger traffic is forecast to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.7 per cent between 2013 and 2017.
Traffic within the region will represent 31.7 per cent of global passengers in 2017, up from 28.2 per cent in 2012.
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