MAHB says cannot preclude future KLIA2 fee hikes

July 27, 2012

A scale model of the KLIA2 low-cost terminal is displayed during a groundbreaking ceremony in Sepang.—File picPUTRAJAYA, July 27 ― Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) Chief Financial Officer Faizal Mansor today said the airport tax for the new low-cost carrier terminal KLIA2 would remain when it begins operations in April next year.

He said the charges are, however, regulated by the government, and it is the government’s decision whether to increase or lower the tax.

“Every five years the government requests from MAHB information about various aeronautical charges and they use that information to decide whether airport charges should go up or not.

“The next review is scheduled in 2014,” he told reporters at the media briefing on MAHB financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2012 here today.

Since it is not for MAHB to decide, Faizal said the airport operator is unable to come up with a black-and-white assurance that the charges will not increase.

Faizal was responding to AirAsia X chairman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s statement yesterday that timeliness and a concrete black-and-white commitment on fixed airport charges in the new low-cost carrier terminal are needed to cool down the ongoing tension between AirAsia founder and chief executive Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and MAHB.

Faizal also said it does not make sense for the amount to remain the same as the costs definitely increase every year, especially in salaries and inflation.

Stressing that the current charge is still the lowest in the world, he said a minimal increase like RM1 for international passengers would not make them cancel their trip, especially those from countries with currencies stronger than Malaysia’s.

The collection would not only help MAHB cope with inflation and staff salary increases, but also be used to build a better terminal with better facilities to attract a lot more passengers, he said.

Currently, the airport charges domestic passengers RM6 for the LCCT and RM9 for the main terminal, while international passengers are charged RM32 and RM65 respectively. — Bernama