Malaysia’s Transport Ministry has announced that Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (or Subang International Airport – SZB) in the state of Selangor will be redeveloped into an aviation hub and a premium city airport. The Malaysian Cabinet approved The Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP) in February 2023, which aims to increase passenger capacity to up to eight million annually.
SZB was Kuala Lumpur’s main airport from 1965 to 1998, until Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) opened in 1993. The Subang Airport Regeneration Plan will concentrate on the aerospace ecosystem, general aviation/business aviation and city airports (city airport/secondary airport). Among the main changes include the reintroduction of scheduled passenger flights and belly cargo flights by using narrow-body jets up to the size of A320/B737 or equivalent aircraft. By leveraging SZB’s strategic location in the heart of Greater Kuala Lumpur, the plan aims to capture the premium and business passenger market segments.
Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) will finalize the detailed redevelopment plan, containing the entire project cost. Key components will be included in the ecosystem, such as the aerospace industry center; maintenance, repair and overhaul center; research and development center; general aviation operations; business aviation operations; urban air mobility and regional commercial flight operations. Capital A Bhd, AirAsia’s parent company, has expressed interest in operating in the SZB to reach a new passenger segment.
(Sources: The Edge Markets; Aerotime; The Star)
