MALAYSIA Aviation Group (MAG) has announced its participation in a move to revive jet operations at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SAAS) Airport, slated to commence as early as June this year.
Despite the anticipation surrounding MAG’s involvement, details regarding which of its airline units—Malaysia Airlines Bhd or FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd—will spearhead the narrowbody aircraft operations remain undisclosed.
MAG managing director Datuk Izham Ismail pointed out the group’s commitment to the airport’s revival without divulging specific operational plans.
“MAG will participate (in the resumption of jet operations out of SAAS airport). We can’t reveal at the moment whether it’ll be Malaysia Airlines or Firefly but we’ll participate from the airport,” Business Times quoted Izham as saying.
“The destinations that either of the two airlines would fly to would be domestic destinations and ASEAN countries.”
SAAS Airport sees operations exclusively by Firefly with its turboprop aircraft while Malaysia Airlines operates primarily out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1. Malaysia Airlines’ fleet comprises narrowbody and widebody aircraft, whereas Firefly operates narrowbody planes alongside ATR turboprops.
Izham elucidated on the current allocation of aircraft slots at SAAS Airport, noting that they are designated for ATR aircraft.
“The current aircraft slots at Subang Airport are for ATRs while airlines that want to operate jets out of the 59-year-old airport would have to bid for new slots.
“Firefly will continue operating its ATRs out of the airport until the completion of Subang Airport’s phase one development which will see the cessation of turboprop operations,” he added.
“Our current slots are only for ATR slots. We have to bid for the fresh slots (for jet operations). Once the bidding for the new slots open, MAG would have to bid for it.”
According to Izham, SAAS airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) would allow MAG to convert its ATR slots to jets once phase one of the airport development is in place.
The resumption of narrowbody aircraft operations at SAAS Airport scheduled for June marks a significant milestone, 26 years after all jet operations were redirected to KLIA in 1998.
MAHB strategy senior general manager Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin outlined the phase one development, which includes provisions for parking bays tailored to accommodate both narrowbody aircraft and ATRs.
“Subang Airport would be able to handle single-aisle aircraft types such as Boeing 737s, Airbus A320s and A321s once the phase one project, which started in December 2023, is completed.
“MAHB is working with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to offer airport slots to airlines that are interested in operating out of the Subang Airport.”
Furthermore, existing operators like Firefly and Batik Air Malaysia Sdn Bhd are encouraged to retain their current slots while also having the option to apply for new ones as per their operational requirements.
Main photo credit: The Star
