Thursday December 13, 2007

A BIG expansion plan has been made for the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in Sepang, and construction work is expected to start soon.

The expansion project, located next to the LCCT international departure area, will increase the terminal’s maximum capacity by 50% from the current 10 million to 15 million passengers annually.

According to Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) senior general manager (operations) Datuk Azmi Murad, the details of the expansion plan are being discussed with the government.

“The expansion work is expected to be completed between nine and 12 months. Based on our projection, the terminal should reach its maximum capacity of 15 million by 2011,” he said.

Azmi said this during a recent media briefing of the LCCT expansion programme in Sepang.

He said that so far, the LCCT had been able to handle the increasing number of passengers, mostly Air Asia customers.

Azmi said there was still sufficient room to accommodate more passengers until the expansion project was completed.

He said as of Nov 25, the LCCT had already recorded a total of 6.7 million passengers and would likely hit the seven million mark before the end of this year.

“The passenger volume is increasing and it is imperative that the expansion be completed on time. We will keep to schedule,” he said.

Azmi said that the MAHB was also looking into complaints about insufficient seating both at the main and international terminal lounges.

He said that other factors contributing to the congestion at the LCCT would also be studied.

“Apart from increasing the number of chairs, the number of parking lots would also be increased from the current 1,100 to 1,350 to complement the expansion,” he said.

Azmi said passengers could look forward to an improvement in baggage scanning procedures, check-in counters, more eating outlets and systematic feeder bus services operating between the LCCT and the main terminal building.

This article is a verbatim copy of the original article from The Star.