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The Business Times

Friday, August 13 2004

Senai airport passenger traffic up 78pc in Jan-June 2004

THE Senai International Airport in Johor is becoming increasingly popular with foreign and local travellers, enabling it to record a 78 per cent surge in passenger traffic in the first six months of this year.

Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd (SATS), which became the airport operator last November, said passenger traffic rocketed to 686,964 from 386,596 in the same period in 2003.

Of the total users during the six-month period, more than 30 per cent were from neighbouring Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. The remaining flew from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

The airport targets handling 1.5 million passengers this year, about 70 per cent more than the 900,000 in 2003.

“Our plan is to re-position Senai as a southern hub for domestic travel in Malaysia while adding a regional dimension to meet the planned rise in air passenger count,” SATS chief commercial officer Lars Gronsedt said yesterday.

He attributes Senai’s popularity to its key aviation partners, budget carrier AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines. Both have increased the number of flights and added regional destinations out of Senai.

Malaysia Airlines operates domestic flights from Senai, while AirAsia flies to over six destinations in three countries, including Jakarta and Bangkok on a daily basis.

Senai anticipates continued strong traffic for the second half of the year on growing public confidence and affordable travel.

“We’re on track to hit the 1.5 million mark this year. July’s passenger throughput of 112,613 is encouraging, and with festivities and the holiday season in the final quarter of the year, we may surpass our original target,” Gronsedt said.

The increase in passenger traffic has translated into higher load factors on flights arriving and departing from Senai, averaging at 63 per cent for departures and 62 per cent for arrivals.

Senai is currently upgrading its passenger facilities and services to meet rising travel demand.

It recently introduced a free shuttle service from the airport for passengers wishing to travel to Singapore, with a stopover at the City Lounge in Kotaraya, Johor Baru. From there, they can board a taxi or a public bus to Singapore.

Senai has added 400 parking bays, bringing the total to 1,200. It is the first airport in Malaysia to provide valet and free porter services.

Also in the pipeline are new passenger conveniences costing RM40 million, such as the construction of multiple food and beverage outlets as well as international class shopping facilities.