Melaka IA:BallsUp@BatuBerendam!

[GWR]

Another project, which has hit a snag, is the Batu Berendam Airport expansion under the Transport Ministry.

The RM131mil project, aimed at extending the airport’s runway to 1,880m to take in Boeing 737-400 and Airbus A320 aircraft, is scheduled for completion by April 2009.

However, owing to an oversight, it was realised that only half-loaded Boeing 737-400 and Airbus A320 could use the runway as fully-loaded planes would require a 2,200m runway.

The state recently requested additional funds to construct the additional 400m.

The upgraded Batu Berendam Airport is crucial for the state’s growing tourism industry, especially for the expected increase in medical tourists.

The state received 64,000 medical tourists, mostly Indonesians, last year and is ahead of Penang, Federal Territory, Selangor and Johor.

Mohd Ali said the state had forwarded an appeal to the Federal Government on the matter.

“These are federal projects and the state leaves it to the Government to handle them,” he said.
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/7/24/southneast/21876387&sec=southneast

[GWR]

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/7/24/southneast/21876387&sec=southneast

Sunday August 3, 2008
Malacca set to be low-cost fare hub

MALACCA: The state is set to be a low-cost fare hub for the southern region following the completion of the RM134mil expansion of the Batu Berendam Airport early next year.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said a meeting would be held with AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandez next week to determine the routes for the airline.

“We will be discussing the possible air routes to be taken by AirAsia with the aim of making the airport a destination for low-cost budget carriers around the southern region,” he told reporters after visiting the airport project.

He said the upgraded airport was crucial for the state’s growing tourism industry, especially with the increase in medical tourists from Pekan Baru and Palembang in Indonesia.

The state received some 64,000 medical tourists, mostly Indonesians, last year and is ahead of Penang, the Federal Territory, Selangor and Johor.

“It is also timely that the airport is being upgraded in light of the historic city’s inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site as more tourists are expected to visit the state via direct flights,” he added.

Mohd Ali stressed that the airport would still be functional although the 1,880m runway would only service half-loaded Boeing 737-400 and Airbus A320.

“Planes with a full load of passengers can still land, however, with lesser cargo volume. The same goes when the plane’s cargo load is fully loaded, then the passenger load has to be reduced,” he said.

He said the state had requested for an additional RM40mil from the Federal Government to extend the runway by an additional 400m to allow fully-loaded planes to land.

At present, 70% of the airport project had been completed.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/3/nation/21987314&sec=nation

[GWR]

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/7/24/southneast/21876387&sec=southneast

Although I can't help wondering whether the earlier opening day isn't largely a result of having made the runway too short. According to the quoted post above, the runway should have been 2,200 meters long:


Thursday August 14, 2008
Upgrading work at Batu Berendam five months ahead of schedule

MALACCA: Upgrading work at Batu Berendam Airport is expected to be completed five months ahead of schedule, with the first flight likely to be AirAsia’s.

By coincidence, the planned re-opening of the airport on Dec 8 is also the anniversary date of the airline’s inaugural no-frills flights in 2001.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said AirAsia had agreed in principle to use the airport for six routes with special packages promoting Malacca and Penang as World Heritage Site destinations.

The routes would cover Medan, Pekan Baru, Palembang, Padang (all in Indonesia), Penang and Langkawi, he told reporters here yesterday after attending a briefing by AirAsia on its likely use of the airport.

However, he said, the airline would need approval from the Transport Ministry.

The RM131.5mil airport expansion involves the construction of new departure and arrival terminals and extending the present runway from 1,372m to 1,800m.

AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said the airline would use Boeing 737s for the flights in an out of Batu Berendam.

“The date chosen by the Chief Minister is good as it is also the anniversary date of our no-frills flights,” he said.

He welcomed the state’s proposal to develop a heritage air route linking Malacca and Penang.

He added that he would present a more concrete proposal to the Malacca Government by next Wednesday.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/14/nation/22078936&sec=nation