Minimising environmental impact: Langkawi International Airport currently operates on solar panels with a total capacity of 1.1MW. Additionally, its airfield ground lighting has been upgraded from halogen bulbs to energy-efficient LED lighting, reducing energy use by up to 90%. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
SEPANG: Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and Langkawi International Airport (LIA) have achieved Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Level 1 Mapping, given by Airports Council International (ACI), in recognition of their commitment to environmental sustainability.
These two airports now join KL International Airport (KLIA) and over 600 other airports worldwide in moving closer towards net-zero emissions through ACI’s comprehensive seven-level programme, which encourages collective action to reduce emissions.
KLIA, accredited since 2015, is currently endorsed at Level 3 Optimisation, said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) in a statement yesterday.
According to its managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani, sustainability is a key strategic theme for MAHB in guiding the organisation’s long-term vision and practices.
“Achieving ACA for KKIA and LIA is a testament of our unwavering commitment to environmental excellence and leadership in building a greener aviation sector in Malaysia.
“We are already actively working towards certifying Penang and Kuching airports, and ultimately aim to bring ACA accreditation to our entire airport network.
“By being part of ACA-accredited airports, we are able to lead and set global standards in sustainable airport operations.
“Through initiatives spanning energy efficiency, advanced waste management and community engagement, we strive to minimise our environmental impact while raising awareness of sustainability’s vital role in airport management.
“Each accredited airport moves us closer to our goal of a low-carbon future, ensuring that our actions today support a sustainable legacy for generations to come,” he said.
The ACA programme is a global initiative by ACI to help airports reduce their carbon emissions through a structured framework to guide airports from basic carbon mapping to achieving net-zero emissions.
It has seven levels of certification – Mapping, Reduction, Optimisation, Neutrality, Transformation, Transition, and maintaining a Net Zero balance on scopes 1 and 2 and actively addressing Scope 3 emissions.
By achieving Level 1, KKIA and LIA have committed to conducting a comprehensive analysis of its CO2 emissions and creating structured plans for their reduction, marking their first step in their journey towards decarbonisation.
KKIA has recorded a total of 6.6 million passengers year-to-date (YTD), a 13% increase from the 5.9 million passengers in the same period last year. The airport has installed solar photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 3.8MW, and introduced an energy management system to enhance energy efficiency.
Meanwhile, LIA, with 2.1 million passengers YTD, currently operates on solar panels with a total capacity of 1.1MW.
Additionally, its airfield ground lighting has been upgraded from halogen bulbs to energy-efficient LED lighting, reducing energy use by up to 90%.
In October, MAHB recorded a total of 7.7 million passenger movements across its network of Malaysian airports, serving 4.1 million international and 3.6 million domestic passengers.
Last month saw the introduction of several new international routes, including Penang to Jakarta with Batik Air Malaysia (seven weekly flights), Penang to Shenzhen with AirAsia (four weekly flights), KLIA to Amritsar with AirAsia (four weekly flights), and Melaka to Singapore with Scoot (five weekly flights).
In the domestic sector, Batik Air Malaysia launched a new service from Subang to Kota Baru, operating seven times weekly.
The group’s total passenger count for October, including its Turkish asset Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (ISGA), reached 11.2 million.
