LCCT to cease operations on May 9, says deputy minister

Check-in counters at KLIA2

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia will have to move to KLIA2 before May 9 as the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang will cease operations that day, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Aziz Kaprawi.

He said the LCCT will be “empty” after it closes, and all the relevant agencies such as Immigration and Customs will relocate to KLIA2.

“There won’t be anything anymore at LCCT,” he said after the launch of Airport Cities World Conference and Exhibition 2014 here yesterday.

When asked if AirAsia had been notified, Aziz replied: “Yes, we have told them.”

KLIA2, Aziz affirmed, was on track to open on May 2.

“We will organise an open day for KLIA2 on April 27 to give Malaysians an insight into the new airport, including passes to go to the tarmac and runaway,” he added.

Four airlines will be flying in on the opening day of KLIA2 with Cebu Pacific expected to land the inaugural flight in the wee hours of May 2. The other three airlines are Malindo Air, Tiger Airways and Mandala Airlines.

On another matter, Aziz denied there were cost overruns for KLIA2.

“As I’ve been told, the final account hasn’t been completed, so you can’t say that. I believe it is within budget. As per the briefing by Malaysia Airports Bhd, it is still under RM4bil,” he said.

The project that went up for tender in 2009 had an initial cost of RM1.9bil.

However, its delivery date was postponed several times due to various changes, causing some analysts to estimate the final cost to possibly hit RM4.5bil.

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