Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAB) is planning a revamp of Kuala Lumpur's old Subang airport to boost its focus on business and general aviation activities.
MAB has unveiled plans to modify the airport's passenger terminal for executive use and improve facilities in a bid to cement its position as Malaysia's primary "centre for general aviation".
The country's main helicopter operator, MHS Aviation, has signed an agreement under which it will develop a hangar and corporate offices at Subang, which is formally known as Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (SAAS) Airport. It has been replaced as the capital's international gateway by the recently constructed Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The hangar will be used for the parking of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, as well as for third-party maintenance. It will also house the company's business aviation centre.
Meanwhile, Transmile Group's maintenance and engineering unit, GroupTech, has signed an agreement with MAB to lease a new aircraft maintenance hangar at SAAS Airport.
The deal calls for GroupTech to rent a hangar with a floor space of 6,840m2 (73,630ft2) that will be constructed by MAB.
Sister company Transmile Air Services operates four Boeing 737 freighters, six 727 freighters and two Cessna Grand Caravans. The group already has a heavy maintenance capability on the aircraft types it operates at Subang.
The Transmile Group holds rights to sell and maintain Cessna aircraft in Malaysia as well as to provide spare parts.
SAAS Airport has a 3,600m (11,800ft)-long runway. As well as handling a limited number of remaining commercial flights, it caters for private jet operations, pilot training and military flights.
Source: Flight International