AirAsia bigwigs, staff say farewell to LCCT

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia and AirAsia X bosses and staff took to Twitter Thursday to bid farewell to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), as the budget airline closed down its operations there before moving to KLIA2 beginning Friday.

In a tweet on Thursday night, AirAsia Group chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes shared a photo of the now-empty check-in counters, saying, "From my desk at LCCT. Deserted. Built for 10 million expanded to 15 million but we did 20 million due to 3 year delay."

He then shared another photo, voicing his love for the LCCT.

Tony Fernandes' photo of a deserted LCCT.

"I love it. With a bit of thought and investment, we could have stayed here. But everyone always wants to build. It's airlines that brings passengers tourists and jobs. Not airports. Onwards and upwards." said Fernandes through his official Twitter account, @tonyfernandes.

Similar views were shared by AirAsia Berhad CEO Aireen Omar, who shared a photo on her Instagram account of AirAsia's last flight from LCCT bound for Kolkata.

"Last flight from LCCT. Flight to Calcutta. #thankyoulcct . You've been awesome," said Aireen via her Instagram account, aireenomar.

On her Twitter account, @aireenomar, she added "Waiting anxiously for first arrival of #AirAsia flight into klia2 frm Ho Chi Minh City. First batch of ramp vehicles arrived at klia2! Ready for first arrival at klia2 today".

She also shared what she would miss the most about the LCCT.

"Many asked what I'll miss most about LCCT. I said: simple, practical, fast, convenient, low cost. We had the best growth here. #thankyoulcct," said Aireen.

AirAsia X's CEO Azran Osman-Rani also said farewell to the LCCT on his official account, @azranosmanrani, sharing a picture with AirAsiaX's director of operations Moses Devanayagam in their now-empty offices.

"This was where Moses n I started at AirAsia X in 2007. Now the team have packed up for KLIA2 move. #thankyoulcct," said Azran.

Aside from the chiefs, AirAsia staff also said their goodbyes to the airport, such as pilot Johan F. Khairuddin.

"My 1st flight on @AirAsia X from LCCT, was as a passenger. My last flight from LCCT, was as the pilot. #ThankYouLCCT," said Johan via his Twitter account.

The last AirAsia flights out were Kolkata-bound AK-63 which left at 10.30pm, and AK 6446 which left for Kota Baru at 9.50pm. The last AirAsia X departure was D7 170, which left for Jeddah at 2.35am.