AirAsia will soon return to Kuala Lumpur’s Subang airport, Capital A CEO, Tony Fernandes confirmed at a media conference. The airline was asked to shift base to Kuala Lumpur International Airport about 21 years ago.
Following the move by the Malaysian government to allow scheduled passenger carriers to use narrowbody aircraft as large as B737-800s and A320-200s at the airport, the airline applied to base ten aircraft at the airport and recommence operations.
"I always have said that it is a waste of an asset," Fernandes said, “A big city like Kuala Lumpur should have two airports."
Subang Airport was Kuala Lumpur’s primary airport till Kuala Lumpur International airport (KLIA) opened in 1998. In 2002, AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines were ordered to switch their operations to KLIA to boost traffic.
Presently Subang is served by Firefly, Berjaya Air, SKS Airways and Batik Air Malaysia, all using turboprops for their operations. Raya Airways operates widebody from Subang to Indonesia and Hong Kong.
Currently the Malaysian Government is considering redevelopment of Subang Airport to reintroduce commercial narrowbody passenger flights along with MRO facilities, business and aerospace parks to ease the traffic at KLIA.
The narrowbody traffic at KLIN that makes up 70% of the total traffic, if this is shifted to Subang more capacity will be cleared at Kuala Lumpur International airport for other long-haul flights. As per the redevelopment plan, Subang will serve as complementary secondary airport to KLIA instead of competing against it.