30 June 2016
The name “klia2” will remain, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
AirAsia, meanwhile, can continue to market klia2 to its customers as “LCCT-KL” (Low-Cost Carrier Terminal-KL).
This was the outcome of a two-hour meeting yesterday between Liow and the AirAsia top management, comprising AirAsia Bhd Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and AirAsia chief executive officer Aireen Omar.
Liow said AirAsia’s efforts to promote the terminal as a “low-cost hub” will be supported.
“The airline’s intention to bring more tourists into Malaysia is appreciated. The Government and all airlines need to work together,” he said at a press conference.
“The Government has always supported AirAsia to be the best low-cost carrier in the world, and that is why they have grown well.
“They brought many tourists into Malaysia and we are very appreciative of their effort.
“I think their intention to turn klia2 into a low-cost hub is good as it will bring in more tourists,” said Liow.
Liow said the airline’s top management explained themselves well “but we agreed that there is no need for a name change”.
“But they can brand and promote it, and attract more people to fly into klia2.
“Most importantly for the Government is that national interest must come first, not an individual’s or a company’s.
“And that national interest is to bring in more tourists into Malaysia and everyone, including Malaysia Airports, AirAsia, other airlines and the Transport Ministry must work together,” added Liow.
When met by reporters, Fernandes said the meeting was “a good one” and agreed that the name change was not important.
Fernandes told reporters that AirAsia would continue to market klia2 to its customers as “LCCT-KL”.
“We went into the meeting with the minister, not for a name change. We went in there to get the message across that we want to promote to the world that klia2 is a low-cost hub. I think this is understood clearly by the minister.
“About 90% of the flights at klia2 are low cost. We want to promote to the world, whatever it is called, that it is Asia’s low-cost hub.
“It is cheaper to fly to Incheon or Australia via klia2, then it is from Changi.
“The ‘fly-through’ market is a big opportunity to grow. How do we tell people that klia2 has the best low-cost connectivity? For us, it’s by calling it LCCT and using taglines like ‘the lowest-cost hub in Asia’ or ‘Your one-stop to anywhere in Asia’,” said Fernandes.
Original Source: www.thestar.com.my
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