23 November, 2011
By Sharifah Hunaini Syed Ismail
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) says it has been misunderstood by several parties to the point of having a completely wrong picture of the airport operator company.
Its Chairman, Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman, said the misunderstandings also involved the issue of sky bridge facility at the new low cost carrier terminal (klia2) with the airport being termed as not being friendly to the disabled or senior citizens.
As a services provider, MAHB did have the intention of providing sky bridges at the airport in line with the company’s concept of safe and convenient service, he said.
“We were actually ready to put in the facility, but our main user of klia2, Air Asia, said they would not be using it.
“If they do not use what had been prepared, there would be no returns from that as nobody would be using it, while in terms of investments, the cost is not a small amount. For all the routes, it would amount to more than RM120 million,” he told Bernama here Wednesday.
Dr Aris said this when asked to comment on statements by several parties requesting MAHB to be more considerate and build the sky bridges at the klia2 for the use of the disabled and senior citizens.
As a service provider, MAHB is also prepared to provide the bridge if Air Asia, which will be the main tenant of klia2, changes its mind and wants to use the sky bridge, Dr Aris said.
“If there is a demand, we would provide the service, but we would not be able to provide it if the people do not want to use it.
“If Air Asia agrees, we are ready (to build it). Even if they do not agree, truth is the foundation for building the sky bridge is already there,” he said.
He also said airline companies in the country were lucky as they could say no to several things while in other countries, “if the airport says use (a facility) the airlines would have to use them.”
He also called on parties that saw the importance of the sky bridges and requesting that they be built, send their feedback to the low cost airline company.
Malaysia Airports Holdings, known as one of the largest private sector companies in the world, manages 39 airports in Malaysia including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
It has also established its position in several other countries such as with the Delhi Airport and Hyderabad International Airport in India, as well as with the airports in Turkey and Maldives.
The company is also the leading airport operator company in Asia and the sixth in the world and is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. –BERNAMA
Source: www.bernama.com.my
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