MAHB to follow contractors' date for KLIA2 completion
Prem Kumar PanjamorthyPublished: Jun 14, 2013 5:42 AM | Updated: Jun 14, 2013 8:31 AM
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) will issue a fresh opening date for the new low-cost airport, KLIA2, after receiving the date from the airport's terminal builder, a joint-venture of UEM Group and Bina Puri.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) will issue a fresh opening date for the new low-cost airport, KLIA2, after receiving the date from the airport's terminal builder, a joint-venture of UEM Group and Bina Puri.
The airport is about 90 percent complete currently, with the main terminal building having the most work to be completed.
“It’s no longer MAHB’s date. We want to know the contractors’ date. Once the date is given, we will announce it,” a source close to the airport operator told Bernama today.
The UEM-Bina Puri joint-venture had asked for an extension until September or October to complete additional works.
The source said the airport’s runway and control tower are still not ready. However, work can be accelerated for completion.
MAHB had dismissed allegations that it had blamed low-cost carrier, AirAsia Bhd, for the latest delay.
“Yes. We had blamed airlines for playing some part in the previous delays but our stand is very clear in the latest round of delay. The June 28 delay is mainly due to the contractors,” the source said.
Yesterday, AirAsia asked the government to set up an independent panel to probe into the much delayed construction of the new low-cost airport, and to evaluate the project’s current progress, when it can be completed and how much it is going to cost.
In June 2011, MAHB had accused AirAsia, the main airline to use KLIA2, for the cause of the delay due to the latter's request to up passenger capacity to 45 million per annum from 30 million initially.
The airport operator also said the low-cost airline declined to use aerobridges, citing high operating cost and also decided at the last minute to switch from a semi-automated baggage handling system to one that was fully automated.
The realignments had pushed back the completion date of the new terminal to April 2013.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had in January announced that KLIA2 will be launched on June 28, coinciding with the launch date of the KL International Airport (KLIA) in 1998.
Last month, MAHB announced the KLIA2's fifth delay, with no new timeline given.
- Bernama
The airport is about 90 percent complete currently, with the main terminal building having the most work to be completed.
“It’s no longer MAHB’s date. We want to know the contractors’ date. Once the date is given, we will announce it,” a source close to the airport operator told Bernama today.
The UEM-Bina Puri joint-venture had asked for an extension until September or October to complete additional works.
The source said the airport’s runway and control tower are still not ready. However, work can be accelerated for completion.
MAHB had dismissed allegations that it had blamed low-cost carrier, AirAsia Bhd, for the latest delay.
“Yes. We had blamed airlines for playing some part in the previous delays but our stand is very clear in the latest round of delay. The June 28 delay is mainly due to the contractors,” the source said.
Yesterday, AirAsia asked the government to set up an independent panel to probe into the much delayed construction of the new low-cost airport, and to evaluate the project’s current progress, when it can be completed and how much it is going to cost.
In June 2011, MAHB had accused AirAsia, the main airline to use KLIA2, for the cause of the delay due to the latter's request to up passenger capacity to 45 million per annum from 30 million initially.
The airport operator also said the low-cost airline declined to use aerobridges, citing high operating cost and also decided at the last minute to switch from a semi-automated baggage handling system to one that was fully automated.
The realignments had pushed back the completion date of the new terminal to April 2013.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had in January announced that KLIA2 will be launched on June 28, coinciding with the launch date of the KL International Airport (KLIA) in 1998.
Last month, MAHB announced the KLIA2's fifth delay, with no new timeline given.
- Bernama
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