Clarification On Airasia’s Statement, “klia2 Is LCCT2”

Malaysia Airports wishes to clarify our position in regard to AirAsia’s statement in calling klia2 as LCCT2 and promoting it as a low-cost hub.

klia2 is neither an independent airport nor a hub. It is KL International Airport’s (KLIA) second terminal and is a crucial component of the KLIA hub. Although klia2 is currently mainly used by low-cost carriers, it is designed to cater to all types of airlines as it supports the overall KLIA capacity.

Malaysia Airports, under its five-year business plan – Runway to Success 2020 (RtS2020), is working to position KLIA as an integrated hub (KUL Hub) that will provide seamless connectivity between airlines, whether full service, hybrid or low-cost. This is similar to other successful international hubs which rely on all types of airlines operating within a single airport system. Examples of formidable hubs are Dubai, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Hong Kong and Singapore. In the case of Dubai and Singapore, low-cost traffic component makes up 26% of their total traffic. However, this percentage represents a segment of a much larger volume of international traffic compared to klia2. Successful hubs are measured by the extent of the international connectivity and it is evident that this can only be achieved by leveraging on full service carrier network and alliances as well.

When klia2 was envisaged, it was meant to enhance KLIA’s connectivity and elevate its position as a competitive hub within the region. KLIA Main Terminal is connected worldwide to 1,026 destinations through 166 airlines, thus, klia2 is in good position to leverage this ready connectivity. By virtue of this, it is crucial to view and position both KLIA Main and klia2 together as KUL Hub or an integrated airport system, instead of taking klia2 as an independent low-cost hub. Malaysia will be able to serve the air travel market more effectively only by having full service and low-cost carriers working together under a single airport system i.e. KUL Hub.

Malaysia Airports would like to advise that klia2 is the registered name of the terminal under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and calling it by any other name would only serve in misleading and causing confusion to the public and passengers.