Subang Airport, originally Kuala Lumpur’s primary airport, is set to resume jet operations this August after a 26-year hiatus. First opened in 1965, the airport’s jet operations were moved to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang in 1998. This move marks a significant milestone in Malaysian aviation history.
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) has confirmed that six airlines have received approval to fly out of Subang Airport. These airlines include Firefly, Batik Air, AirAsia, SKS Airways, and two foreign airlines. AirAsia Aviation Group CEO Bo Lingam announced that AirAsia will start flying out of Subang Airport on 30 August, with two daily flights to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) and Kuching International Airport (KCH). Batik Air Malaysia CEO Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy stated that Batik Air will focus on domestic destinations, while Malaysia Airlines will continue to operate out of KLIA Terminal 1. The identities of the two foreign airlines are yet to be revealed, but Scoot, a low-cost carrier under Singapore Airlines, has shown interest in flying to Subang.
The launch of narrowbody aircraft services and the operations of all airlines out of Subang Airport is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Under the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP), the airport has undergone significant revamping and expansion to accommodate more passengers and jet operations. Subang Airport’s passenger capacity is projected to double from 1.5 million to three million passengers, with a long-term goal of reaching eight million passengers by 2030.
Subang Airport will operate with a single runway, with the number of flights taking off and landing being limited to avoid impacting KLIA’s traffic. The airport is designed to serve as a point-to-point focused airport, with no transfer facilities planned.
Mavcom confirmed that the slots for interim jet operations were provided by the National Slot Coordination Malaysia (NSCM) in collaboration with the aviation regulator and the Transport Ministry. Firefly, Batik Air Malaysia, AirAsia, SKS Airways, and two foreign airlines have received approval for their slots to operate narrowbody aircraft out of Subang Airport during this interim period.
This revival of jet operations at Subang Airport is a testament to Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to enhance its aviation infrastructure and provide more travel options for passengers.
