Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah

Exterior view of the newly refurbished Subang skypark terminal from the pavement
IATA: SZBICAO: WMSA
WMO: 48647
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Government of Malaysia
Operator Subang Skypark Sdn Bhd
Serves Klang Valley, West Malaysia
Location Subang, Selangor, West Malaysia
Hub for
Time zone MST (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL 89 ft / 27 m
Coordinates 03°07′52″N 101°32′53″E / 3.13111°N 101.54806°E / 3.13111; 101.54806Coordinates: 03°07′52″N 101°32′53″E / 3.13111°N 101.54806°E / 3.13111; 101.54806
Map
WMSA

Location in West Malaysia

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
15/33 3,780 12,402 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Passenger 3,059,144 (Increase 10.7%)
Airfreight (tonnes) 31,357 (Increase 11.5%)
Aircraft movements 95,845 (Increase 4.7%)
Source: official web site[1]
AIP Malaysia[2]

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Malay: Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, LTSAAS, (IATA: SZB, ICAO: WMSA) (formerly Subang International Airport/Kuala Lumpur International Airport), often called Subang Airport or Subang Skypark, is an airport located in Subang, Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia.

Subang International Airport served as Kuala Lumpur's main airport from 1965 to 1998, when the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang was opened. Although plans existed to convert the airport into a low-cost carrier hub, the change was opposed by Subang Jaya residents. The airport was repurposed to serve general aviation as well as turboprop domestic and international flights.

Subang Airport is currently the hub for Berjaya Air, Firefly and Malindo Air commercial turboprop services. Transmile Air Services is the only other non-passenger non-turbo prop aircraft landing and utilising Subang Airport Terminal 2. While heavily opposed by Ara Damansara residents of the noise of the jet engines, Transmile still operates out of SZB servicing DHL and other local hubs.

History

The airport was officially opened to traffic on 30 August 1965, and had the longest runway (3.7 km long, 45m wide – runway 15 – 33) in Southeast Asia, replacing Sungai Besi Airport. By the 1990s, the airport had three terminals – Terminal 1 for international flights, Terminal 2 for Singapore – Kuala Lumpur shuttle flights by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, and Terminal 3 for domestic flights. Toward the end of service, the airport suffered at least two major fires that forced traffic to be diverted to other airports. By the end of 1997, Subang Airport had handled 15.8 million passengers. In 1997 terminal 1 was demolished.

In July 2002, AirAsia began flying from KLIA, and in 2004, AirAsia considered utilising the airport as a primary hub in Malaysia. However, the plan was rejected and the Malaysian government now plans to turn the airport into an international conference centre. Since Firefly started operations in the airport, AirAsia has been lobbying the government to allow AirAsia to use Subang Airport. As of December 2007, the government still maintains its policy of only allowing general aviation and turbo-prop flights out of Subang Airport.[3] The airport underwent renovation works at Terminal 3 from February 2008 and was finished in October 2009. Terminal 3 was renamed to Subang Skypark.

Present

Transmile Air Services, a national cargo carrier, chose Subang Airport as its main cargo operation center. Several companies offer chartered flights and helicopter services from the airport. One of the largest FBO (Fixed Base Operator) in the region (with covered hangar space of more than 100,000sqft), Dnest Aviation Services is also based in this airport. Their newest hangar boast a "first of its kind" infrastructure capable of taking in either a 737 BBJ or A319 ACJ and 2 basement floors directly underneath it with ample of office space, lecture rooms, carpark and a cafeteria. A number of flying clubs are also located at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah airport, the most famous of these being Subang Flying Club, Elite Flying Club, Eurocopter(An EADS Company), ESB Flying Club(Eurodynamic Sdn Bhd). With Eurocopter, the airport servers as a maintenance and support facility for Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency helicopters.

The main headquarters of Malaysia Airlines is in Subang,[4] consisting of administrative departments & its maintenance, repair and overhaul subsidiary, MAS Aerospace.[5] In addition Berjaya Air's head office is in the Berjaya Hangar in the SkyPark Terminal Building.[6] Previously the head office was in Terminal 3.[7] Transmile Air Services has its head office in the Transmile Centre in the Cargo Complex.[8]

Another MAS subsidiary, Firefly also operates a fleet of ATR-72 out of Subang.[9]

Apart from that, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport was to be a hub for Global Flying Hospitals, but the humanitarian medical charity made the decision to close down Malaysian Operations, stating that the elements to make the correct formula for the GFH model were not present.

Terminal 3 transformation plan

On 4 December 2007, Subang SkyPark Sdn Bhd announce a RM 300 million plan to transform the Terminal 3 building into an ultra-modern general and corporate aviation hub. The plan includes upgrading the terminal, creation of regional aviation center and finally the establishment of a commercial nexus. Under an agreement with Malaysia Airports, Subang Skypark will serve private aviation while Malaysia Airports will serve Berjaya Air and Firefly Airlines. Subang Skypark recently signed a lease agreement with Malaysia Airports for the land in the Airport in Langkawi.[10][11]

Firefly ATR 72 and Berjaya Airlines Dash 7, as seen from the tarmac of Subang Skypark. The 2 main operators of the airport in 2011.

On the next day, VistaJet, a business jet service provider, has announced that it will use the airport as a base of operations in Malaysia. It has chosen Terminal 3, which is being operated by Subang Skypark to be the hub in Asia.[12]

The operator announce that construction works for a 9,000 square feet (840 m2), five-star executive lounge begins in February 2008. The construction works was awarded to ArcRadius Sdn Bhd. It is expected that the lounge works will be done by end of March 2008.[13] The transformation plans also calls for a construction of two 42 meters by 47 meters maintenance, repair and overhaul hangars and ten 36-meter by 36-meter parking hangars. The construction of the MRO hangars will complete by end of 2008 while two of the ten parking hangars will complete by end of 2009.[14]

On 8 August 2008, VistaJet Holding SA started operations from the airport. It provides private jet travel from Malaysia to anywhere in the world.[15]

Subang Airport underwent a RM40 million facelift on the check-in terminals. The facelift did nothing much to address the lack of parking spots, although a valet service is provided. Parking cost RM25 on daily basis. A rail link is being constructed to connect to the airport to Kuala Lumpur via KTM Komuter but in the meantime, travellers can catch a local bus out of Central Market bus hub.

The airport was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on 28 October 2009. The Prime Minister has expressed confidence that the airport will reach 2 million annual passenger and emerge as a regional hub of ASEAN.[16]

Terminal 2 at Skypark Subang

The next phase of development will entail the refurbishment of the former Terminal 2 (T2) of the SAAS airport into an extension of the SkyPark Terminal 3. Works are scheduled to commence end of 2013 with an estimated construction period of 24 months. The combined capacity of T2 and T3 will be 5 million passengers.

With a retail extension of 320,000 sq ft, the project will include airport facilities and services and a multilevel car park of 350,000 sq ft with 1,155 bays. The extension will also include an entertainment / event deck that overlooks the runway, a first of its kind, open to public, in Malaysia.

Subang Skypark KTM Komuter extension

The work for a KTM Komuter shuttle service connecting Subang Jaya to the terminal is currently being carried out. This extension is a part of the Port Klang Line and will provide a rail connectivity to the airport that is currently only served by other kinds of road transportation. The line being built is 8 km long and is slated to have three stations: Glenmarie, Sri Subang, and Subang Skypark.[17][18]

Commercial Nexus

Skypark Commercial Nexus is a mixed development commercial project sited on a 5.13 hectare plot adjoined to the main terminal. Among the proposed highlights of the Nexus would be a hotel, entertainment outlets, aviation museum and an aviation theme park (subject to approval from authority). A multi-storey car park is also included. Construction work is expected to commence in early 2014. The upcoming railway line is planned to connect SkyPark Nexus to Subang Jaya KTMB station due to complete by mid 2016.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Firefly Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Koh Samui, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Langkawi, Medan, Penang, Singapore
Malindo Air Alor Setar, Batam, Johor Bahru, Kerteh, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Langkawi, Penang

Traffic and statistics

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
199411,343,648Steady262,053Steady137,871Steady
199512,776,877Increase 12.6325,871Increase 24.4146,248Increase 6.1
199614,556,879Increase 13.9372,339Increase 14.3163,493Increase 11.8
199715,819,863Increase 8.7413,695Increase 11.1162,652Decrease 0.5
19988,263,930Decrease 47.8166,794Decrease 59.788,882Decrease 45.3
19991,999,302Decrease 75.814,069Decrease 91.627,753Decrease 68.8
20002,100,727Increase 5.115,893Increase 13.038,129Increase 37.4
20011,955,688Decrease 6.914,445Decrease 9.135,691Decrease 6.4
20021,130,169Decrease 42.212,261Decrease 15.128,170Decrease 21.1
200372,491Decrease 93.614,358Increase 17.119,616Decrease 30.4
200490,593Increase 25.018,670Increase 30.022,757Increase 16.0
200583,602Decrease 7.746,082Increase 146.829,668Increase 30.4
200683,502Decrease 0.1271,953Increase 56.136,626Increase 23.4
200795,583Increase 14.563,382Decrease 11.944,302Increase 21.0
2008307,747Increase 222.018,473Decrease 70.846,989Increase 6.1
2009819,840Increase 166.418,536Decrease 0.355,148Increase 17.4
20101,118,309Increase 36.419,988Increase 7.863,616Increase 15.3
20111,320,227Increase 18.019,928Decrease 0.368,135Increase 7.1
20121,442,514Increase 9.322,680Increase 13.874,008Increase 8.6
20131,859,020Increase 28.926,443Increase 16.680,047Increase 8.2
20142,762,556Increase 48.628,128Increase 6.491,529Increase 14.3
20153,059,144Increase 10.731,357Increase 11.595,845Increase 4.7
Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad[19]

Ground transportation

Airport taxi

This is the easiest way to get in and out of the airport. There is a taxi booth inside the terminal building, so arriving passengers can directly go to the booth and get on the taxi right away.

Bus

Buses from Subang Skypark toward Pasar Seni (Central Market) in Kuala Lumpur city center are Rapid KL bus no. U81 (also stops at Asia Jaya and KL Sentral). The bus ticket is RM2.00 per way and start operate as early as 6.00 am till midnight.

Accidents and incidents

References

  1. Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
  2. WMSA – SUBANG/SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia
  3. AirAsia a key player in changing aviation landscape
  4. "Press Release Sep 2007." Malaysia Airlines. Retrieved on 27 September 2009.
  5. Anna Maria Samsudin. "MAS Aerospace sees RM400m third-party revenue". Business Times.
  6. " Contact Us." Berjaya Air. Retrieved on 26 December 2011. "Head Quarters Office Berjaya Air Sdn Bhd Berjaya Hangar, SkyPark Terminal Building Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport 47200 Subang Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia"
  7. "Contact Us." Berjaya Air. 8 March 2005. Retrieved on 26 December 2011. "Head Quarters Office Correspondence : Berjaya Air Sdn Bhd Terminal 3 Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport 47200 Subang Selangor Darul Ehsan West Malaysia"
  8. "Group Offices." Transmile Air Services. Retrieved on 27 December 2011. "Corporate & Finance Transmile Centre Cargo Complex, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. 47200 Subang, Selangor Darul Ehsan MALAYSIA"
  9. "Contact Info." Firefly. Retrieved on 22 February 2010. "Principal Office FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, 3rd Floor, Admin Building 1, Complex A, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, 47200 Subang, Selangor, Malaysia. "
  10. RM300m to transform Terminal 3
  11. Subang to become hub for corporate jets
  12. Vista Jet picks Subang to be Asian hub
  13. Work on Subang Skypark begins
  14. Thean Lee Cheng. "Turning Subang into SkyPark". The Star. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  15. "VistaJet to use Subang Skypark as regional hub". The Star. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  16. "SkyPark a model airport, says Najib". The Star. 28 October 2009.
  17. priya menon (2014-08-08). "Work on railway line from Subang airport to KL Sentral has begun - Community | The Star Online". Thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  18. "PROJEK LANDASAN KERETAPI DARI SUBANG KE TERMINAL SKYPARK SUBANG | Laman Web Rasmi Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat". S.P.A.D. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  19. "MAHB Annual Report 2015" (PDF). Malaysia Airports. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  20. "AAIB Investigation Report – Boeing 747 G-AWNC" (PDF).
  21. ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A300B4-120 OY-KAA Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL)
  22. ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-249F N807FT Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, May 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.