AirAsia will take a toll on plans to run operations from Kuala Lumpur's Subang Airport, bringing its urban airports back to life.
On March 6, the low-cost operator said that from April 7th, domestic flights will be relocated to Kota Kinabalu and Kouching to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) hub.
The move adds that “it aims to optimize operations amid growing demand and improving the overall guest experience.”
In August 2024, AirAsia resumed operations at Subang Airport more than 20 years later, starting twice a day flight to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia. It is one of the flock of airlines that have launched jet operations from the airport, more than KLIA, located near Kuala Lumpur.
At the time, the reopening of jet operations in Subang was hailed as a key milestone in government plans to rejuvenate the airport.
“Airasia closely assesses passenger trends and operational needs, and KLIA provides the best platform for improving efficiency and quality of service. While Subang Airport is convenient, particularly for travelers surrounded by cities, it will take time to redevelop to support future growth,” the airline said.
Fareh Mazputra, managing director of AirAsia Malaysia, noted that KLIA's infrastructure “supports connectivity needs at scale – especially during peak driving.”
“We also provide the capabilities needed for continuous growth to install more flights to deliver on the rise in demand across East Malaysia routes,” he adds.
The exit from AirAsia's Operation Subang will leave only two Malaysian operators at the airport. Malaysia Airlines sister units Firefly and Batik Air Malaysia. Two foreign operators, Scoot in Singapore and Transnusa in Indonesia, are also driving to the airport.
