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Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport

Coordinates: 03°07′52″N 101°32′53″E / 3.13111°N 101.54806°E / 3.13111; 101.54806
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For the military use of this facility, see RMAF Subang Air Base.

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport

Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Exterior view of the newly refurbished Subang skypark terminal from the pavement
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorMASB/Government of Malaysia
ServesGreater Kuala Lumpur
LocationSubang, Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia
Opened30 August 1965; 59 years ago (1965-08-30)
Hub for
Focus city forBerjaya Air
Time zoneMST (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL27 m / 89 ft
Coordinates03°07′52″N 101°32′53″E / 3.13111°N 101.54806°E / 3.13111; 101.54806
Map
SZB/WMSA is located in Selangor
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA is located in Peninsular Malaysia
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA (Peninsular Malaysia)
SZB/WMSA is located in Malaysia
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA (Malaysia)
SZB/WMSA is located in Southeast Asia
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA (Southeast Asia)
SZB/WMSA is located in Asia
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA
SZB/WMSA (Asia)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
15/33 3,780 12,402 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Passengers949,934 (Decrease 58.0%)
Cargo (tonnes)58,260 (Increase 68.1%)
Aircraft movements49,454 (Decrease 38.6%)
Source: official website[1]
AIP Malaysia[2]

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (IATA: SZB, ICAO: WMSA) — formerly Subang International Airport/Kuala Lumpur International Airport, often called Subang Airport — is an airport located in Subang, Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia.

Subang International Airport served as Kuala Lumpur's main airport from 1965 to 1998, before the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang was opened. Although plans existed to convert the airport into a low-cost carrier base, the change was opposed by Subang Jaya residents. The airport was repurposed to serve general aviation as well as turboprop domestic and international flights. In 1996, the airport was renamed after Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj (Salahuddin of Selangor), the eleventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and eighth Sultan of Selangor.

Subang Airport is currently the base for SKS Airways and Firefly commercial turboprop services. Raya Airways is the only other non-passenger non-turbo prop aircraft landing and utilising Subang Airport Terminal 2. While heavily opposed by Ara Damansara residents of the noise of the jet engines, Raya Airways still operates out of SZB servicing DHL and other local hubs.

History

[edit]
One of the airport complexes
Apron view

Work on the Subang International Airport started in 1961 and finished in 1965 at a cost of $64 million. Its design consisted of a roof composed of floating concrete shells that was held aloft by mushroom-shaped columns. Partners in the Booty Edwards Architectural practice Kington Loo and C.H.R Bailey are typically attributed with the design. The open structure also featured a massive circular ramp, reminiscent of Berthold Lubetkin's penguin pavilion in London. Most of the structure was removed during a major reconstruction in 1983.[3]

The airport was officially opened to traffic on 30 August 1965 and had the longest runway (3,780 m (12,401 ft 7 in) long, 45 m (147 ft 8 in) wide – runway 15 – 33) in Southeast Asia, replacing Sungai Besi Airport. By the 1990s, the airport had three terminals – Terminal 1 for international flights, Terminal 2 for Singapore – Kuala Lumpur shuttle flights by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, and Terminal 3 for domestic flights. Toward the end of service, the airport suffered at least two major fires that forced traffic to be diverted to other airports. In 2003, terminal 1 was demolished.[4]

In July 2002, AirAsia began flying from KLIA, and in 2004, AirAsia considered utilising the airport as a primary operating base in Malaysia. Since Firefly started operations in the airport, AirAsia has been lobbying the government to allow AirAsia to use Subang Airport. As of December 2007, the government still maintains its policy of only allowing general aviation and turbo-prop flights out of Subang Airport.[5] The airport underwent renovation works at Terminal 3 from February 2008 and was finished in October 2009. Terminal 3 was renamed to Subang Skypark.

Present

[edit]

Raya Airways, a national cargo carrier, chose Subang Airport as its main cargo operation center. Several companies offer chartered flights and helicopter services from the airport. One of the largest FBO (Fixed-Base Operator) in the region (with covered hangar space of more than 100,000 sq ft (9,290 m2)), Dnest Aviation Services is also based in this airport. Their newest hangar boasts a "first of its kind" infrastructure capable of taking in either a 737 BBJ or A319 ACJ and 2 basement floors directly underneath it with ample of office space, lecture rooms, carpark and a cafeteria. A number of flying clubs are also located at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah airport, the most famous of these being Subang Flying Club, Air Adventure Flying Club, Eurocopter (An EADS Company), ESB Flying Club (Eurodynamic Sdn Bhd). With Eurocopter, the airport serves as a maintenance and support facility for Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency helicopters.

Berjaya Air's head office is in the Berjaya Hangar in the SkyPark Terminal Building.[6] Previously the head office was in Terminal 3.[7] Transmile Air Services has its head office in the Transmile Centre in the Cargo Complex.[8] The main headquarters of Malaysia Airlines was previously in Subang,[9] consisting of administrative departments & its maintenance, repair and overhaul subsidiary, MAS Aerospace.[10] In addition, another MAS subsidiary, Firefly also operates a fleet of ATR 72 out of Subang.[11]

Apart from that, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport was to be a hub for Global Flying Hospitals, but the humanitarian medical charity made the decision to close down Malaysian operations, stating that the elements to make the correct formula for the GFH model were not present.

Skypark Terminal 3 transformation plan

[edit]

On 4 December 2007, Subang SkyPark Sdn Bhd announced a RM 300 million plan to transform the Terminal 3 building into an ultra-modern general and corporate aviation hub. The plan includes upgrading the terminal, creating a regional aviation center and establishing a commercial nexus. Under an agreement with Malaysia Airports, Subang Skypark will serve private aviation while Malaysia Airports will serve Berjaya Air and Firefly Airlines. Subang Skypark recently signed a lease agreement with Malaysia Airports for the land for the airport in Langkawi.[12][13] The next day, VistaJet, a business jet service provider, announced that it would use the airport as a base of operations in Malaysia. It chose Terminal 3, which is being operated by Subang Skypark to be the hub in Asia.[14]

The operator announced that construction work for a 9,000 square feet (836 m2), five-star executive lounge would begin in February 2008. The construction works was awarded to ArcRadius Sdn Bhd. It was expected that the lounge works would be done by end of March 2008.[15] The transformation plans also calls for a construction of two 42 meters (137 ft 10 in) by 47 meters (154 ft 2 in) maintenance, repair and overhaul hangars and ten 36-meter (118 ft 1 in) by 36-meter (118 ft 1 in) parking hangars. The construction of the MRO hangars was scheduled to be complete by end of 2008, while two of the ten parking hangars were to be complete by the end of 2009.[16]

On 8 August 2008, VistaJet Holding SA started operations from the airport. It provides private jet travel from Malaysia to anywhere in the world.[17]

Subang Airport underwent a RM40 million facelift on the check-in terminals. The facelift did nothing much to address the lack of parking spots, although a valet service is provided. Parking cost RM25 on daily basis. A rail link was added in 2018 to connect to the airport to Kuala Lumpur Sentral via KTM Komuter; travellers can also catch a local bus out of Central Market bus hub.

The airport was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on 28 October 2009. He expressed confidence that the airport will reach 2 million annual passenger and emerge as a regional hub of ASEAN.[18]

Terminal 2 at Skypark Subang

[edit]
A Malindo Air plane at the Skypark Terminal of the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport

The next phase of development will entail the refurbishment of the former Terminal 2 (T2) of the SAAS airport into an extension of the SkyPark Terminal 3. Works are scheduled to commence end of 2017 with an estimated construction period of 24 months. The combined capacity of T2 and T3 will be 5 million passengers.

With a retail extension of 29,729 m2 (320,000 sq ft), the project will include airport facilities and services and a multilevel car park of 32,516 m2 (349,999 sq ft) with 1,155 bays. The extension will also include an entertainment / event deck that overlooks the runway, a first of its kind, open to public, in Malaysia.

Commercial Nexus

[edit]

Skypark Commercial Nexus is a mixed development commercial project sited on a 5.13-hectare (12.7-acre) plot adjoined to the main terminal. Among the proposed highlights of the Nexus would be a hotel, entertainment outlets, aviation museum and an aviation theme park (subject to approval from authority). A multi-storey car park is also included. Construction work is expected to commence in early 2014. The upcoming railway line is planned to connect SkyPark Nexus to Subang Jaya KTMB station.

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
AirAsia Kota Kinabalu, Kuching[19]
Batik Air Malaysia Kota Bharu,[20] Penang[21]
Berjaya Air Charter: Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Langkawi, Pangkor, Redang,[22] Tioman
Firefly Alor Setar, Johor Bahru,[23] Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu,[24] Kuala Terengganu, Langkawi, Penang, Singapore–Seletar[25]
Scoot Singapore[26][27]
TransNusa Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[28]

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
My Jet Xpress Airlines[citation needed] Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Singapore
Raya Airways[citation needed] Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Labuan, Miri, Nanning,[29] Phnom Penh, Singapore

Traffic and statistics

[edit]
Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year Passengers
handled 		Passenger
% change 		Cargo
(metric tonnes) 		Cargo
% change 		Aircraft
movements 		Aircraft
% change
1994 11,343,648 Steady 262,053 Steady 137,871 Steady
1995 12,776,877 Increase 12.6 325,871 Increase 24.4 146,248 Increase 6.1
1996 14,556,879 Increase 13.9 372,339 Increase 14.3 163,493 Increase 11.8
1997 15,819,863 Increase 8.7 413,695 Increase 11.1 162,652 Decrease 0.5
1998 8,263,930 Decrease 47.8 166,794 Decrease 59.7 88,882 Decrease 45.3
1999 1,999,302 Decrease 75.8 14,069 Decrease 91.6 27,753 Decrease 68.8
2000 2,100,727 Increase 5.1 15,893 Increase 13.0 38,129 Increase 37.4
2001 1,955,688 Decrease 6.9 14,445 Decrease 9.1 35,691 Decrease 6.4
2002 1,130,169 Decrease 42.2 12,261 Decrease 15.1 28,170 Decrease 21.1
2003 72,491 Decrease 93.6 14,358 Increase 17.1 19,616 Decrease 30.4
2004 90,593 Increase 25.0 18,670 Increase 30.0 22,757 Increase 16.0
2005 83,602 Decrease 7.7 46,082 Increase 146.8 29,668 Increase 30.4
2006 83,502 Decrease 0.12 71,953 Increase 56.1 36,626 Increase 23.4
2007 95,583 Increase 14.5 63,382 Decrease 11.9 44,302 Increase 21.0
2008 307,747 Increase 222.0 18,473 Decrease 70.8 46,989 Increase 6.1
2009 819,840 Increase 166.4 18,536 Decrease 0.3 55,148 Increase 17.4
2010 1,118,309 Increase 36.4 19,988 Increase 7.8 63,616 Increase 15.3
2011 1,320,227 Increase 18.0 19,928 Decrease 0.3 68,135 Increase 7.1
2012 1,442,514 Increase 9.3 22,680 Increase 13.8 74,008 Increase 8.6
2013 1,859,020 Increase 28.9 26,443 Increase 16.6 80,047 Increase 8.2
2014 2,762,556 Increase 48.6 28,128 Increase 6.4 91,529 Increase 14.3
2015 3,059,144 Increase 10.7 31,357 Increase 11.5 95,845 Increase 4.7
2016 2,834,836 Decrease 7.3 36,147 Increase 15.3 94,544 Decrease 1.4
2017 2,880,586 Increase 1.6 36,568 Increase 1.2 98,955 Increase 4.7
2018 1,964,059 Decrease 31.8 32,284 Decrease 11.7 80,775 Decrease 18.4
2019 2,259,595 Increase 15.0 34,648 Increase 7.3 80,606 Decrease 0.2
2020 949,934 Decrease 58.0 58,260 Increase 68.1 49,454 Decrease 38.6
Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad[30]

Ground transportation

[edit]

Airport taxi

[edit]

There is a taxi booth inside the terminal building, so arriving passengers can directly go to the booth and get on a taxi.

Bus

[edit]

Transit bus

[edit]

Buses from Subang Skypark towards Pasar Seni (Central Market) in Kuala Lumpur city center are Rapid KL bus No. 772 (also stops at Asia Jaya LRT station and KL Sentral). The bus ticket costs RM2.50 (Asia Jaya) & RM3.00 (Pasar Seni), and the route operates from 6:00 am till midnight.

Feeder bus

[edit]

To serve the newly opened Kelana Jaya extension line and MRT Kajang Line, there is a Rapid KL feeder bus No. T773 route between Ara Damansara LRT Station and Subang Skypark and MRT feeder bus No. T804 route between Kwasa Sentral station and Subang Airport. Fares are fixed at RM1.00.

Feeder bus no. Station name Line name
T773 Ara Damansara Kelana Jaya Line
T804 Kwasa Sentral Kajang Line

Airport shuttle bus

[edit]

There is also a bus shuttle service between Subang Skypark and Kuala Lumpur International Airport KLIA & KLIA2. The service departs from Subang Skypark from 5am until 7pm. The one-way journey takes around one hour (subject to traffic) and costs RM10 per passenger.

Airport train

[edit]
Main article: Skypark Link

A KTM Komuter shuttle service connecting KL Sentral through Subang Jaya to the terminal was operated between 1 May 2018 to 15 February 2023. This extension is a branch line of the Port Klang Line and provided rail connectivity to the airport that is currently only served by other kinds of road transportation. The line is 26 km long and has three stations: KL Sentral, Subang Jaya, and Terminal Skypark with two planned stations - Glenmarie, Sri Subang.[31][32] However, the Subang Skypark airport train system was suspended from 15 February 2023 due to the low ridership.[33]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • 11 May 1976 – British Airways Flight 888, a Boeing 747-100 from London to Melbourne via Bahrain, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, was on approach to Runway 15 when it flew below the normal flight path, hitting trees 2.2 nautical miles before the runway threshold. On landing, inspection of the aircraft revealed damage on the main landing gear; strike marks on the fuselage and engine intakes; and evidence of debris ingestion on the two left-side engines.[34]
  • 27 September 1977 – Japan Airlines Flight 715, a Douglas DC-8, crashed into a hill in bad weather while attempting to land on Runway 15. 34 people, including 8 of the 10 crew members and 26 of the 69 passengers, were killed when the aircraft broke on impact.
  • 18 December 1983 – Malaysian Airline System Flight 684, an Airbus A300 from Singapore crashed 2 km short of the runway while approaching Runway 15 in bad weather. There were no fatalities, but the aircraft was written off. Ironically, the aircraft was operating its last scheduled flight for Malaysian Airline System, before being returned to its original operator, Scandinavian Airlines System.[35]
  • 19 February 1989 – Flying Tiger Line Flight 66, a Boeing 747-200F from Singapore crashed 12 kilometres from the airport while on approach to Runway 33. The pilots misinterpreted the controller's instructions to descend, causing the aircraft to fly below minimum altitude and crash into a hillside on the outskirts of Puchong. All four flight crew were killed.[36]
  • 18 March 2019 – At approximately 3.20am, an accident had happened on the runway of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport Subang involving a privately owned Bombardier Challenger 300 and an airport engineering vehicle. The vehicle was on the runway to escort contractors fixing the lighting of the runway when the airport staff driving it fell asleep while waiting for the contractors to finish their work. The contractors vacated the runway upon seeing the landing lights of the approaching aircraft while the airport staff in the vehicle had died from the incident a few days later. Two air traffic controllers were suspended due to the incident.[37][38]
  • 24 March 2021 - At 9.25am, an Airbus AS350 B3 helicopter crashed at the airport. There were five people on board, including one pilot and four passengers. All the victims were taken to the hospital for further treatment, two persons were reportedly injured and one suffered a broken leg and head injury. It left Sungai Lembing in Pahang at 8.30am and was on a private flight to Subang via Maran, Temerloh, Karak and the Batu Caves. A safety investigation will be conducted by Malaysia's Air Accident Investigation Bureau.[39]
  • 17 August 2023 - At 2.51pm, N28JV, a Beechcraft Premier I crashed at a highway two minutes drive from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. There were 10 casualties involving eight people on the aircraft including YB Datuk Seri Johari Harun and two people on the highway. The aircraft departed Langkawi International Airport at 2.08pm heading to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.[40]

Other shared facilities

[edit]
  • AIROD is located north of the passenger terminal and occupies the land there.
  • RMAF Subang Air Base is located on the western side of the runway, shared with the MMEA hangar.
  • Various hangars storing corporate jets are located south of the Passenger Terminal.
  • The cargo terminal, the base of Raya Air is actually located across the main road, featuring a taxiway crossing the road. Airbus Helicopters has an office at that same location.
  • The Police Air Unit base for Peninsular Malaysia is located at the extreme south of the airfield, the latest addition after shifting there from Sungai Besi Air Base in 2018.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
  2. ^ WMSA – SUBANG/SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia
  3. ^ Kumar, Prem (29 August 1965). "All Set for Airport Opening". The Straits Times: 9.
  4. ^ "New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  5. ^ AirAsia a key player in changing aviation landscape Archived 7 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ " Contact Us Archived 6 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine." Berjaya Air. Retrieved on 26 December 2011. "Head Quarters Office Berjaya Air Sdn Bhd Berjaya Hangar, SkyPark Terminal Building Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport 47200 Subang Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia"
  7. ^ "Contact Us." Berjaya Air. 8 March 2005. Retrieved on 26 December 2011. "Head Quarters Office Correspondence : Berjaya Air Sdn Bhd Terminal 3 Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport 47200 Subang Selangor Darul Ehsan West Malaysia"
  8. ^ "Group Offices Archived 15 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine." Transmile Air Services. Retrieved on 27 December 2011. "Corporate & Finance Transmile Centre Cargo Complex, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. 47200 Subang, Selangor Darul Ehsan MALAYSIA"
  9. ^ "Press Release Sep 2007." Malaysia Airlines. Retrieved on 27 September 2009.
  10. ^ Anna Maria Samsudin. "MAS Aerospace sees RM400m third-party revenue". Business Times.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Contact Info." Firefly. Retrieved on 22 February 2010. "Principal Office FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, 3rd Floor, Admin Building 1, Complex A, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, 47200 Subang, Selangor, Malaysia. "
  12. ^ RM300m to transform Terminal 3 Archived 7 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Malaysia Business & Finance News, Stock Updates | The Star Online". thestar.com.my.
  14. ^ Vista Jet picks Subang to be Asian hub Archived 8 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Work on Subang Skypark begins". Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
  16. ^ Thean Lee Cheng. "Turning Subang into SkyPark". The Star. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  17. ^ "VistaJet to use Subang Skypark as regional hub". The Star. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  18. ^ "SkyPark a model airport, says Najib". The Star. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009.
  19. ^ "AirAsia will start its twice daily flight service out of Subang to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching beginning 30 August". nst.com.my. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Batik Air Malaysia Adds Kuala Lumpur Subang – Kota Bharu from Late-Oct 2024". Aeroroutes. 20 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Batik Air to resume Subang to Penang route from Aug 1". malaymail.com. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  22. ^ "New direct flight from Subang Airport (Kuala Lumpur) to the Taaras Beach & Spa Resort at Redang Island, Malaysia". 24 February 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Fabulous Cats Performs at Senai Airport | Firefly Airline".
  24. ^ "Firefly starting jet ops from Subang Airport Aug 29, 2024". nst.com.my. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  25. ^ Ian Cheng (23 May 2022). "Low-cost Malaysian carrier Firefly Airlines to resume flights to Singapore from June". CNA.
  26. ^ "Scoot to launch Subang flights with A320 aircraft". Business Traveller. Business Traveller Media Limited. 18 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Singapore's budget airline Scoot to fly to Singapore via Subang from Sept 1, bookings open now". malaymail.com. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  28. ^ "Indonesia's TransNusa to fly out of Subang Airport in Aug". nst.com.my. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Raya Airways is first Malaysian freight service into Nanning, China" (PDF). Raya Airways. 15 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Malaysia Airports: Airports Statistics 2020" (PDF). malaysiaairports. April 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  31. ^ priya menon (8 August 2014). "Work on railway line from Subang airport to KL Sentral has begun - Community | The Star Online". Thestar.com.my. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  32. ^ "PROJEK LANDASAN KERETAPI DARI SUBANG KE TERMINAL SKYPARK SUBANG | Laman Web Rasmi Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat". S.P.A.D. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  33. ^ "Skypark Link service suspended from Feb 15". New Straits Times. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  34. ^ "AAIB Investigation Report – Boeing 747 G-AWNC" (PDF).
  35. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A300B4-120 OY-KAA Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL)". aviation-safety.net.
  36. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-249F N807FT Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL)". aviation-safety.net.
  37. ^ "Accident On The Runway Of Subang Airport".
  38. ^ "Subang runway crash: Pilot says was given clearance to land". 22 March 2019.
  39. ^ "2 injured after helicopter crashes at Selangor's Subang Airport".
  40. ^ "Plane crashes at a highway near Elmina". freemalaysiatoday.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
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