Relocation LCCT Labu

Why suddently AirAsia want to move to Labu from existing terminal LCCT in Sepang. Everybody try to guess what is going on with AirAsia and Sime Darby at this juncture. Apparently, Sime Darby also is the 'bad boy' who trying to takeover IJN from Government. Budak hitam nei lagi yang buat kacau.

I'm sure all of us are very upset when Government suddenly gives it green light to build another LCCT in Labu.  It doesn't make sense at all when the Government give approval on this relocation of LCCT, while the current LCCT is still in the process of expansion..

Let us see this in bigger perspectives:

1. Why Labu?

Currently the are two Terminal are currently operates in Sepang, KLIA and LCCT which both are sharing the same landing lanes.  Ape tujuan Kerajaan mengadakan KLIA? Sebab utamanya, mengatasi kesesakan di Terminal 2 and 3, Subang, yang pada masa itu tidak mampu menampung peningkatan bilangan penumpang.

Dengan adanya KLIA dan LCCT, segala permasalahan yang dihadapi semasa di Subang telah dapat di atasi sepenuhnya dengan 10,500 ha designated for KLIA. Alasan untuk ke Labu yang diberi hanyalah, current LCCT Terminal tak mampu menampung peningkatan penumpang yang yang di jangka meningkat dari 7.5 million to 10.5 million per year.

Apa yang ada di Labu? Ape menariknya di sana as compared to KLIA?  LCCT Sepang currently is temporary terminal, until the completion of new permenant Terminal LCCT, which to be nearer to KLIA in 2010.

Projek pembinaan LCCT ini adalah JV between AirAsia and Sime Darby. Where Sime Darby is the main contractor for the LCCT construction, while AirAsia is the Terminal Operator. 

Kalau kita selidik, Sime Darby memiliki tanah yang amat luas di Labu, tetapi sayang nilainya tidak seberapa kalau di bandingkan dengan kawasan di Selangor dan KL. Jadi untuk boost land value in Labu, a bigger project must be done in Labu. Which later can attract more people to stay in Labu.  With the construction of LCCT Labu, this will mitigate Sime Darby's risk in managing their properties. Teori nei macam yang sedang berlaku kat Dubai ler, dari hanya kawasan lembah padang pasir, sekarang telah menjadi among the highest/expensive in the world.  Properties macam goreng pisang panas ler kat sana.

Why only Labu is choosen, why not others area which is better than Labu. In term of connectivity, there are few places are better than Labu. But why Labu?  

2.   Learn the mistake done from Senai Airport  

In 2003, Senai Airport Terminal Services S.B (SAB) bought Senai International Airport in Johor from MAHB and turned into Malaysia's first private airport, which until now SAB still struggling to make profit after few years  in losses.

Do we want to see the second Senai Airport episod in Labu, happen again?

3.   Future prospect of LCCT Sepang  

As we know, the current LCCT is dedicated to AirAsia, but if AirAsia is not keen to operate its business in Sepang, what will be happen to LCCT Terminal in Sepang? To Government, please stop with this kind of AirAsia sandiwara. We all dah muak dah tengok Government dok ikut sangat rentak AirAsia. Semua nak mintak, rakyat dah bosan dengan lakonan nei, takkan nak tengok Tony dok minta spender Pak Lah.

Dah banyak dah duit Government laburkan kat LCCT Sepang, kalau macam nie ler gayenya, 

tak payah ler nak kasi bantuan lagi kat AirAsia nei, yang sememangnya tak tahu mengenang budi. Kalau AirAsia insist jugak nak operates in Labu, OK bagi ajer kat depa tapi dengan syarat, Government kena tetapkan pendirian, bahawa tak ader bantuan akan diberi sekiranya AirAsia gagal seperti aper yang berlaku di Senai Airport. 

Jelas sekali Government sekarang nei terlalu mengikut telunjuk AirAsia especially biler Abang Tony request something. 

4.  AirAsia's competitors : How ?  

I'm wondering what happen to other competitors which currently operates in LCCT Sepang? Are they going to move to LCCT Labu which will be operated by their competitor such Jetstar. TigerAirways etc. which will be their host. Other low cost airlines hv to follow all the rules set by AirAsia (as airport operator), which obviously will benefitting to AirAsia.

Related links : LCCT's Floor Plan

LCCT Moving from Sepang to Subang

There is no right and wrong on this. Some good and bad. It's up to the Government to decide. But I'm sure for this time, the new Minister of Transport will not try to be seem as one of KJ's closest friends. Why Tony is so ambitious to relocate the LCCT to Subang. One thing I noticed, that he will not stop his lobbying to Government, till he gets what he wanted. A classic example, when Government allowed AirAsia to open the route from KUL-SIN under 'Asian Open Sky concept' which is a year a head from the scheduled.

The bad things are, if AirAsia is given landing right in Subang, so other airline also will follow Air Asia to step in Subang such, Silk Air, Tiger Air, etc. That's means it will increase noice, fume pollution. The Government should rethink on the proposal, as those bigger planes surely will disturb the peace of residents staying in USJ and Subang area. 

I still can remember that long time ago, Government decided that Terminal 3, Subang will only be operated by 'Turboprop aircraft' not by 'Jetplane operator'. Now, how come Government can simply try to pull-back their word, by giving this AirAsia to operate LCCT at Subang!! Don't forget Pak Lah always like that, 'hari nei cakap ya, tomorrow says no', macam keling'!!.

AirAsia vs MAS : Air ticket Prices War

We are so lucky nowadays coz can see every time in TV by both companies are looking so aggressive in doing their promotion especially AirAsia. Sometime feel so hard up looking at their promotion, each claims their is 'the best lower fares', especially AirAsia looks they can't accept the reality that MAS is offering 'Everyday Low Fares', which means their capacity as LCC provider is threatened by MAS way. MAS starts to swallow AirAsia's niche customer via 'Everyday Low Fares' campaign. But just thinking,  it just '1st round wrestlemania'. Don't think there will be 'KO' at  this stage. Next round will be more interesting. 

I assume in the next chapter, both companies will become new GLM @ "Gua Lagi Mulah" and no more LCC or whatever CC they want to be la!!

Before you can enjoy GLM jurney, don't forget make sure your pocket have few hundred bugs.

Related post:

Everyday Low vs Sub Zero Fares

 

Everyday Low vs Sub-Zero Fares

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has on 5 May 2008, announced its latest campaign "Everyday Low Fares" that tremendously make AirAsia becomes so paniac. Actually, it is good seeing both operator 'fighting' with each other, coz all the while we only have been bullshitted  by AirAsia in term of package that they offered.  

One thing make me smile is, couple of days after MAS announced, AirAsia has come out with its Sub-Zero campaign. Tony Fernandez (AirAsia prodigy) has announced 2 subsidized offer as a counter attack against MAS. AirAsia claiming that their tickets are still the lowest among other (MAS).  Tony had revealed their latest plan as to react against MAS' copy cat campaign:

1. AirAsia would pay the difference to its passanger if they  can find any MAS airfare is lower          than the cheapest offered by AirAsia.

2. AirAsia will launch its cheaper than sub-zero fare in a few days time. 

However, one thing for sure, this competition between MAS and AirAsia is actually beneficial for the public.

FAX Ground for Rural Area Services

Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) took over the Fokkers 50 from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) last August 2006 under rationalisation domestic flights. MAS has offered to FAX with 10 Fokkers which it had leased from Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad (PMB). However, only 7 Fokkers delivered to FAX.

FAX Chief Operating Officer, Raja Mohd Azmi Raja Razali informed on 15 June 2007 that FAX had to use 7 Fokkers to serve destinations that were served by 10 Fokkers., then make more rounds and carry more load due to decrease in the number of Fokkers.

He said FAX has no choice but to ground these aircraft so that they can put exch of them hhrough exra-intensive checkup and repairs.

The Fokkers are used to serve – among others, Sibu, Kapit, Bintulu, Mukah, Miri, Limbang, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan – an area equal to about 70% of peninsular Malaysia in size.

A380-800

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is taking the world's first A380 in this December 2007. What is so great of this aircraft, until it takes longer times to deliver this aircraft to its buyer.

The A380, the passenger model, is the largest passenger airliner in the world, superseding the Boeing 747-400.

The world largest customers for this aircraft is Emirates of 47, where the aircraft will cost around USD300 million each. Upon completion all the transaction, where should these aircraft be? Surely its will require huge spaces to accommodate the aircrafts.

The A380 can carry 555 passengers in a three-class configuration or up to 853 passengers (538 on the main deck and 315 on the upper deck) in a single-class economy configuration.

Rural Service Back to MAS

What actually makes Fly Asian Express (FAX) to hand over the rural service to Malaysian AIrline System Berhad (MAS)? What is the rational behind that. Earlier under rationalisation of domestic flights signed in July 2006, for rural area services (RAS) in Sabah and Sarawak have been surrendered to Air Asia from MAS. After MAS had announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Firefly who offers daily service out of Penang to Kota Bharu, Langkawi, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu, then FAX has informed to Government its intentions to hand over back RAS to MAS.

Actually, the rural services in Sabah and Sarawak is not really profitable route to any operator. The wost thing is during nine months with FAX, the state authorities always criticised to FAX of not having adequate flights to serve the demands. Was FAX trying to wash its hand by handing over the loss-making rural air services to MAS?

Out of 10's Fokker 50 delivered to FAX in July 2006, only 2's left in 'good condition' at redelivery to MAS, while the remaining can be described as '1/2 Fokker 50', most of the parts being 'robbed' in order to run their daily operation. Fokker 50 spare parts are ceased from any manufacturing. This bad boy always make 'kacau' every where by having backup from  '4th Floor' interference .