If you are wondering where your next AirAsia
flight will be taking off from, it is no longer KLIA2, but LCCT2. AirAsia has boldly gone on with the rename despite the no go from the Transport Ministry and MAHB. So it will be LCCT2 I fly to Langkawi from on Sunday, as the terminal
has gone through a rebranding exercise to be better known as a hub for low-cost
flights around the region.
AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, KLIA2
doesn't mean anything. LCCT2, on the other hand, is synonymous with low-cost.
“It is a brand that we built up together with
Malaysia Airports and it shouldn't go to waste. I urge MAHB to stop denying the
fact that it is a low-cost hub."
AirAsia
has began promoting KLIA2 as LCCT2 as it is undeniable that KLIA2 is a low
cost carrier terminal and even passengers recognize it as such.
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| A screenshot from the website |
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| AirAsia moved from LCCT and started operation at KLIA2 on the 9th May 2014. |
Here's a link to an article I wrote while with the NST on AirAsia's concern over moving to KLIA2
The airline had raised concerns over the safety of passengers and aircraft in 2014
Aireen Omar on KLIA2 rebranding - WATCH - Passengers see KLIA2 as LCCT2
However, after 2 years Air Asia chief executive officer
Aireen Omar said MAHB has ignored the needs and requests of the airline,
adding that many issues were not appropriately addressed with proper actions.
With that, she confirmed that AirAsia will go ahead and
change the name KLIA2 to LCCT2 on its website and other promotional materials,
even though MAHB did not give the idea a green light.
It sure seems like Malaysia Airports Holdings
Berhad has a conflict with the low cost airlines, AirAsia. MAHB has refused to
see KLIA2 as a low-cost hub and not aligning its plans to enable rapid growth
for the enormous volume of flights of AirAsia.
MAHB said changing the name KLIA2 to LCCT2 would only
confuse the public and passengers, and that klia2 was officially registered as
the name of the terminal under the International Air Transport Association.
Meanwhile. Transport Minister
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said it will not be changed, as KLIA 2 is registered
in the International Air Transport Association as part of KLIA's official code,
namely "KUL".
However, he is open to proposals
from AirAsia on how to better position the airport internationally as a leading
low-cost terminal.
Following
Fernandes’s announcement, MAHB stressed last week that KLIA2 was not a low-cost
carrier terminal.
Aireen Omar also said the rebranding would send a
clear message to MAHB to stop denying the existence and contribution of AirAsia
to the growth of the aviation industry in the country.
“We have tried so hard to work together to resolve
our issues with MAHB and it hasn’t seemed to work. It is so hard to have
meetings with them, so hard to resolve things.”
When asked if the change of name would cause
confusion among passengers and taxi drivers, Aireen said she believed it would
not.
When asked if AirAsia would be willing to foot
the bill to rebrand kila2 to LCCT2, Aireen said the group was prepared to do so
although she believed MAHB would not agree to it.
AirAsia accounted for 98% of the flights there with
an average of 37,000 guests daily.
Last year, AirAsia Group flew over 2.3 million
guests into our main hub in Kuala Lumpur.
AirAsia is also the largest foreign airline
operating into China, having carried over 33 million guests to and from China
over the past ten years.
AirAsia currently operates over 220 flights
daily to and from Kuala Lumpur.
According to the low cost airline, an
additional, 1.3 million Fly-Thru guests came through Kuala Lumpur.
As of May this year, close to 700,000 guests
have done the same, including significant traffic from Singapore.
There are a few ways you could use to get to LCCT2, I would suggest the most convenient and cost efficient mode of transport, the ERL. Below is a fare table.
It will also be best to park your car at Putrajaya Central (and take the ERL) instead of parking at the airport, whether you are flying out from KLIA or LCCT2. Parking at KLIA will cost you over RM50 while the Putrajaya Central parking fee is less than RM10.
Don't forget to self check-in before you get to LCCT2!
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