After months of delays, cost overruns and public drama with airlines, the new KLIA2 airport has been verified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to be structurally in compliance with its requirements and safety standards.
According to Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, the verification by the UN-sanctioned body meant that KLIA2 is safe.
He said the ICAO report, handed to him earlier this week, was tabled at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.
Representatives of the ICAO had arrived on April 14 at the invitation of the government to evaluate the new airport and see if there were any structural issues with it, after AirAsia aired its concerns on KLIA2’s state of readiness, particularly in respect to depressions on the apron and runway.
On April 18, the critical document – Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) – which certifies the new airport fit for public use was handed to airport operator, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).
“Everything has been sorted out and the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) for KLIA2 is now officially in the hands of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).
“This is a key milestone en route to the operation of KLIA2 next Friday,” Hishamuddin said at a press conference after witnessing the handing over from MAHB at KLIA2 ATCT here yesterday.
KLIA2’s ATCT, which will be called Tower West, has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest in the world, at 141.9m above sea level. The RM55 million tower beat out the 132.2m tall ATCT at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Hishammuddin said Tower West would monitor the operation of Air Traffic Control for KLIA2 and Runway 3 as well as serve as a back up ATCT in case of emergencies at KLIA’s Tower East.
To mark the event, The Star Online reports that Hishammuddin, with the assistance of air traffic controllers, also directed the simultaneous landing of two commercial Malaysia Airlines jets at the parallel Runway 2 and Runway 3.
The aircraft were a Boeing 747-400 flight MH4502 – a test flight aircraft which departed from KLIA – and Boeing 737-800 flight MH604, a daily flight from Singapore.
Hishamuddin went on to say, “I feel good for the first time in many weeks. I think it is something that we can celebrate after going through quite a tough few weeks.”
The new terminal is set to open its doors to the public on May 2. Hishamuddin said he has indicated to the Cabinet that KLIA2’s official opening could be set as early as June 2.
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