Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport) has undergone a
revival, marking a significant milestone in enhancing regional
connectivity within Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Starting this August,
the airport will resume narrow-body aircraft operations with up to five
airlines, promising to transform travel options for passengers.
New routes and airlines
- TransNusa from Indonesia will begin daily flights
between Subang and Jakarta on August 1, using Airbus A320 aircraft. This
service will strengthen Malaysia-Indonesia ties and offer more travel
options.
- Scoot, a Singapore Airlines subsidiary, will start
operations on September 1. By September 2024, Scoot plans to operate 110
weekly flights, boosting connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.
- AirAsia will expand its Subang operations with two daily flights to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching starting August 30.
- Batik Air Malaysia will offer domestic flights to
various destinations, starting with three weekly flights to Penang from
August 15, eventually increasing to daily service. Future destinations
include Kota Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching.
Impact on travel
Subang Airport’s closer proximity to Kuala Lumpur city centre will
reduce travel times, benefiting business travelers and tourists. In
addition, the reactivated rail link between Subang and Kuala Lumpur will
ensure seamless transfers, making it easier for passengers to move
between the city and the airport.
Opened in 1965, Subang Airport was Kuala Lumpur's main airport until
1998, when jet operations moved to Kuala Lumpur International Airport
(KLIA). The Subang Airport Regeneration Plan aims to resume narrow-body
jet operations, initially doubling its passenger capacity to 3 million,
with a target of 8 million by 2030.