Subang closure?

[Slasher]

I read recentley where Dr M has declared closure of Subang ( IATA SZB ICAO WMSA )to jet ops effective 4th July in order to further his interests in the KLIA rail link and increase MAS revenue. I understand it will remain operational so Dr M can still use his Air Force VIP transport and not have to go all the way to KLIA.. .My question is will Subang be open to jet charter arrivals? Our clients loath KLIA and I fear our KL charters will suffer as a result.. . . . <small>[ 14 March 2002, 07:17: Message edited by: Slasher ]</small>

[PILOST]

Slasher, obviously the commies in Nam are keeping you under the proverbial coconut shell! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .WMSA is closed to RPT traffic.However the airfield is still open for other purposes.Transmile for example,will still have another 10 years before shifting to KLIA.I'm not sure about your charters as they might remove the CIQ facilities.. .. .WMSA will in the long term, be turned into an Aviation Technology Park (Don't ask me what it contains <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> ) & an Air Force Base which is finally free from RPT traffic.. .. .Hope this info helps out.Stay safe in Nam Slasher.. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" /> . .PILOST. . . . <small>[ 14 March 2002, 09:27: Message edited by: PILOST ]</small>

[Usman]

What a waste, Terminal 1 being pulled down to make way for the Technology Park. IMHO they should had kept it at least as a Aviation Museum or converted as the Techno Park. It being a historical site with its unique architecture of its time as the first major airport build after merdeka. . .. .Well the power that be is famous for wasting resources, and this is one of them. Many countries have another airport for its domestic service. . .. .The move to KLIA is a ploy to block Air Asia from offering half to 1/3 the domestic fare of MAS.. . . . <small>[ 14 March 2002, 12:19: Message edited by: FL600 ]</small>

[Usman]

Closing Subang Airport to save the one in Sepang. .. .Mar 13th, 2002. .by Kim Quek. .. .The forced shifting of airlines from the old Subang Airport to the grossly underused Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is a classic example of the pitiful lack of rational thinking that characterises the Barisan Nasional government. . .. .Subang Airport is a large-scale airport, equipped with modern facilities, and its third Terminal Building was only completed while KLIA was still under construction several years ago. It had served as Malaysia’s international gateway since 1960s until KLIA opened in 1998, and its role as the domestic hub continues until today. Due to its proximity to the city of Kuala Lumpur, it is the natural choice as the airport for domestic traffic. . .. .In fact, its present role cannot be replaced by KLIA, as the latter is eminently ill-suited for domestic traffic considering its distance from KL and the relatively small geographical size of Peninsular Malaysia, thus making transit time and transit costs to and from KL disproportionately high and prohibitive. . .. .KLIA’s glaring handicap as a domestic airport is clear as the flight to Johor Bahru or Penang from there is about the same as by road from KL. The taxi fare to KLIA is so expensive that it is almost as much as some of the air fares. So, why should anyone choose to fly to these destinations from KLIA? . .. .The closure of Subang Airport to all commercial jet flights will almost definitely kill second-tier airlines such as Air Asia, which now struggles to survive by plying lesser routes, consisting of mainly domestic destinations. Of greater significance, is the denial of domestic air travel to large sections of Malaysians. . .. .This latest decision by the Malaysian cabinet to shut off Subang Airport defies rationale. Why should Malaysian taxpayers who have spent a huge fortune to build up the massive and modern facilities in Subang be denied the right to enjoy the fruits of their money? . .. .Is it right for the BN government to kill off second-tier airlines in this country, now serving the needs of domestic travellers that could not otherwise be provided by the national airline MAS? Is it right to deny Malaysians the right to an economical or alternative air travel? . .. .While the Cabinet has not justified its decision since its announcement, another source has provided the answers. Under the heading “KLIA on track for regional hub status”, The Star carried an interview with the executive director of Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), the operator of KLIA. That interview provides the thinking that motivated the closure of Subang Airport. . .. .Simply put, it is to rescue KLIA from failure due to underutilisation. . .. .According to MAHB’s presentations, by shutting down Subang Airport, 231 flights will be shifted to KLIA to help boost its passenger flow from the present 14.6 million to the magical 18 million, the “critical mass” needed to transform KLIA into a “regional hub”. . .. .Before going too deeply into the issue, let us dispense with a few preliminary fallacies. . .. .First, it is wishful thinking that all the 231 flights diverted from Subang will end up in KLIA, because many will simply disappear due to lack of economic viability for the passengers as described above. . .. .Second, the deciding factor for passenger numbers for KLIA is not how attractive KLIA is, but how attractive Malaysia is as a country for tourism and business. And that, to a large extent, is shaped by Malaysia’s politics and economics. Artificially boosting passenger figures through shutting down alternative airports will not increase KLIA’s international traffic. . .. .In fact, it is the height of folly that a big, modern airport should be shut down to the detriment of domestic air industry and the deprivation of domestic air travels to local travellers, purely for the purpose of boosting the passenger numbers of another airport, no matter how prestigious or grand it is. . .. .The inevitable setback to the economy and the consequential inconvenience inflicted on the public arising from the closure of Subang Airport begets the question: Was KLIA created to serve the public, or was it the reverse, that public interests should be sacrificed to serve KLIA? . .. .That the prime minister and his Cabinet are constantly embarrassed by the continuing “white elephant” status of KLIA since its opening four years ago is understandable. But is it right to cover up one folly by committing another? . .. .The nation has already paid dearly to quench the PM’s thirst for grandiosity in the premature construction of KLIA, shouldn’t the Cabinet have some mercy now on the people by sparing Subang Airport, the closure of which constitutes a painful loss to the people? . .. .The above example illustrates how an economically unviable grandiose project can boomerang to make the people suffer. Unlike false political propaganda, which can be executed without being detected, an economically unjustifiable mega-project will reveal its true colours when it inevitably inflicts its toll on the economic well-being of the country. . .. .Much to the misfortune of Malaysia, KLIA is but one of many of PM’s mega-follies. Together with the failed Perwaja Steel (RM10 billion), KLIA (RM12 billion, including its express links to KL) has come to the fore due to the glaring visibility of their failures. . .. .Other mega-follies rated lower on the “white elephant” scale are the Petronas Twin Towers (more than RM2 billion), Putrajaya (more than RM20 billion, on-going project), Bakun Dam (RM9 billion, initial stage) and new Johor bridge to Singapore with the associated complex (in the pipeline). . .. .One dreads to ponder the cumulative damage to the economy when all these projects mature and bury us deeper in debts. . .. .And the saddest part of all is — all PM’s mega-follies are unstoppable. There is simply no built-in mechanism left in our present political system to prevent such follies, our original democratic system established by our founding fathers having been thoroughly corroded by the two decades of Mahathirism.

[Slasher]

Yeh thanks Pilost. Ive alreadey spoken to a few of our clients who say they have no problems if we make Malaysian landfall at an intermediate airport like Penang for imigration clearance. Will drive the charter costs up but there willing to accept it if it means avoiding KLIA. Well then at least Subang will accept jet aircraft in the CHTR catagory.. .. .Ref FL600s post, has Dr M realised Tokyos Narita airport is 75km from the city (same as KLIA), and that the local HANEDA field serves the domestic market? Theres a similar set up in Tai Pei. Sounds to me itll make more sense to drive or take a bus rather than fly. Heard the roads are pretty good.

[Last-Samurai]

PILOST : Where had U been ? Not,even "seen" on MAS Pilots' Forum ?. .Best Regards. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

[OldAce999]

KLIA since its opening in 1998 had not been able to settle its electricity bills till today I was told.. .. .So they hope the extra flights into it will solve their cronic power bills.

[Colosseo]

999,. .Do you have any news on the tunnel that links. .Putar Jaya and KLIA?. .As for the electricity bills since 1998, I guess. .that will run into the millions!

[fisherman]

The vast space and green house design at Klia is probably the worst design for air-conditioning in this hot climate. Interesting to find out, how much electricity Mab is paying? May be this is a pre-text for passenger service tax increase.

[Dan Winterland]

Surely Subang will remain a mil airfield, therefore able to sustain growth if required in the future.

[lesenterbang]

Those who complaint about Subang closure are probably never operate into Subang now. Or else they will say 4th of July is Independence Day. Independence from Subang operation, that is.

There is no approach into 33. Runway 15 is the norm now. ILS most of the time is U/S. And that resident CB near VBA.....

As for the lighting, you'll probably be a millionaire to replace the bulbs alone.

Of course, Subang International was not that great either. Remember the remote parkings?Morib hold?

The only problem with KLIA is the same old approach controller. Direct 10 miles final. Slow down to 220 kt. You are no 4 for landing. What, they think we are flying helos?

[Colosseo]

Generally, Malaysian ATC is bloody awful when you compare it
with it's southern neighbour.
As for the closure, well I reckon it's to give Transmile[the only operator left behind] an oportunity to fill in the blanks!
They just built a new tower at terminal two [szb].
Does'nt make sense. Simply illogical.
One thing for sure though, TOLL collection will definately get a BOOST!!!

[Slasher]

Yeh we just got oficial word Subang will stay on for charters but the imigration dept will only be there when Dr M wants to go flying somewhere. We'll be using Penang enroute for imigration which gives us the green light for using Subang and vv on the way home.

Must admit Subang is in a pretty crappey state. Last charter had us doing a twin-NDB at night in heavey rain with f*ck-all surface lighting. Wonder if its going to take another accident before Dr M decides to bring it up to scratch? Weve since had a 30% increase in charter bookings to Subang and it looks like itll become a regular event.