Oleh: Shaheera Aznam Shah
Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd (SATS), a subsidiary of MMC Corp Bhd, has secured a contract from Sanzbury Stead Sdn Bhd to manage, operate and maintain Kertih Airport in Terengganu.
MMC Corp said in a statement that SATS, which currently manages the Johor-based Senai International Airport, is expected to operate the main air base for oil and gas operation in Kertih for three years, effective Jan 1, 2019.
MMC Corp MD Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh (picture), who is also the chairman of SATS, is confident that the Johor-based airport operator will bring value-added services to Kertih Airport and meet the industry’s regulations and standards.
“We are honoured to be given the trust and opportunity by Sanzbury Stead to run Kertih Airport.
“Senai International Airport is the only privately managed commercial airport in Malaysia with expertise in airport management and operations for over 15 years,” he said.
Under the strategic partnership, SATS is expected to provide professional management services and undertake the role of operator of Kertih Airport, while Sanzbury Stead, a subsidiary of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), would maintain its position as the asset owner.
SATS will strategise the airport’s operation to achieve safe, efficient and uninterrupted services which are aligned to the regulatory requirements by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, Malaysian Aviation Commission and other government agencies.
“With our extensive experience in managing one of the fastest growing airports in Malaysia, SATS pledges operational excellence in operating Kertih Airport through an efficient and effective asset maintenance programme aimed at optimising the cost of operations,” the company said in a statement.
At present, Kertih Airport is catering primarily to helicopter flights for the offshore oil platforms at the state’s coast.
It also serves scheduled commercial flights operated by Malindo Air to Subang in Selangor, that meets the demand of personnel from Petronas’ petrochemicals production and crude oil refinery in Paka, Terengganu.
MMC Corp said the contract will include regulating operations on aerodrome certifications, airport health, safety, security and environment and emergency response operations.
Senai International Airport recently bagged the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation’s Asia-Pacific Regional Airport of the Year 2018, under the less than 10 million annual passenger category for its new biometrics technology.
The airport is currently connected to 18 destinations, including 11 domestic and seven international links.
It also received its first three millionth passengers in 2017, while its passenger traffic has nearly tripled over the last six years with at least 10% annual growth since 2013.
In 2018, Senai International Airport has become the first airport in Asia to implement the AirAsia’s Fast Airport Clearance Experience System, a biometrics technology that provides a seamless self-service travel experience.
Sumber: The Malaysian Reserve