KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 12): Malindo Air will be moving its operations to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) main terminal from klia2, starting March 15.

In a joint statement with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) today, Malindo said the move was an effort to better serve its customers and position the airline for sustainable, long-term growth.

“All Malindo Air flights to and from Kuala Lumpur from March 15 onwards will be departing from and arriving at KLIA main terminal.

“Guests of Malindo Air are urged to make the necessary transportation and meeting point arrangements accordingly,” read the group’s statement.

The airline added that its ATR72-600 turbo-prop operations from Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Subang, will not be affected by this relocation.

Malindo chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy said the airline is looking forward to the relocation to KLIA.

“We hope that in the long term, we will be able to contribute positively to the growth of the nation’s aviation and tourism industries, and boost the economic growth of the country further.. all our guests will be notified accordingly in due time, to ensure a smooth migration,” he said.

According to MAHB, the move is in line with one of the strategic priorities identified in its five-year business plan, Runway to Success 2020, which is to assist airlines in increasing their connectivity into the Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Hub and enhance the seamless inter and intra transfers at both KLIA main terminal and klia2.

MAHB managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the move would suit Malindo’s evolvement from a hybrid to a full service airline.

“As Malindo Air evolves its business model from a hybrid to a full service airline, there are many premium services demanded by its business class passengers, which are more available at KLIA Main.

“They also require a shorter turnaround time for the transfers in their cooperative engagement with the foreign carriers operating out of KLIA Main, [and] MAHB is pleased to facilitate Malindo Air’s change in business requirements,” he said.