Saturday October 31, 2009

The site clearing works for the new low cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in Sepang will begin next month, said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) chairman Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman.

“We divided the project into more than 30 packages and will involve different consultants,” he told Malaysian reporters here for the official launch of the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport today.

The new LCCT project, worth RM2bil, is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2011, following which the existing LCCT would be converted into a cargo-handling terminal.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said the works for the new terminal included the development of the runway, taxiway, parking bays, terminal, control tower, fire station and related facilities like hotel, retail shops and food and beverage outlets.

The project also involves the extension of the 2km Express Rail Link, linking the main terminal of KLIA to the new LCCT, estimated to cost some RM100mil, which is part of the Government’s stimulus package.

Rahim said the existing LCCT was congested as it had already breached its initial capability of handling 10 million passengers. In anticipation of the strong growth in tourist arrivals, the new terminal would have a capacity of 30 million passengers, he said. Tourist arrivals in the first eight months of this year amounted to 15.38 million.