The Star Online: Business
The Star Online: Business |
- AirAsia wants Govt to allocate more funds to DCA
- 57 projects being considered for facilitation fund
- Plaza Premium plans to operate 100 lounges worldwide by year-end
| AirAsia wants Govt to allocate more funds to DCA Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:28 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: The Government should allocate more funds for the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCA) in Budget 2013 in line with its efforts to transform Malaysia into a tourism hub in Asean. AirAsia chief executive officer Aireen Omar said with air travel becoming a very crucial driver of the country's tourism, more funds for DCA would boost the department's capabilities in handling Malaysia's growing air traffic. "Airlines from Malaysia, including AirAsia, bring a lot of traffic to the region and the country," she told Bernama in an interview. Prime Minister cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to table Budget 2013 on Sept 28. Aireen said AirAsia's pilots were having difficulties with air traffic control at Malaysian airports, and the issue was persistent with the ever increasing flight movements at the airports during peak periods. She added that the Government should consider introducing a system to monitor the landing period of planes according to airlines to prevent delays, like what was practised in Singapore, Indonesia and the Phillippines. "Maybe through the system, we can ensure a smooth and efficient aviation industry," she said. Malaysia registered 24.7 million tourist arrivals last year with about RM58.3bil in receipts. For the first six months of 2012, a total of 11.6 million tourists visited Malaysia, registering growth of 2.4% compared with the same period last year. Total tourism receipts for the first half of this year also rose, generating RM26.8bil in revenue, up 4% over the same period in 2011. Bernama |
| 57 projects being considered for facilitation fund Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:26 PM PDT PUTRAJAYA: Fifty-seven projects are being negotiated for allocations from the Public Private Partnership Unit, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said yesterday. The projects from various sectors, including tourism, commercial and mixed development, were expected to generate RM51.5bil worth of economic spin-offs, he told Bernama after the signing of an agreement for a facilitation fund for MAHSA University College. He said that 17 projects worth RM1.6bil have received the facilitation fund so far. The projects had created RM16.4bil worth of economic activities, he said. The unit was evaluating another 61 projects. "If all the projects are approved, it will entail a cumulative RM6.6bil allocation," added Nor Mohamed, who is in-charge of the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department. The Government established a RM20bil Facilitation Fund under the 10th Malaysia Plan as the "tipping point" for the Public Private Partnership Unit to help finance private sector projects. Bernama |
| Plaza Premium plans to operate 100 lounges worldwide by year-end Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:24 PM PDT SEPANG: Hong Kong-based airport pay-in lounge service provider, Plaza Premium Lounge Management Ltd, which operates 91 lounges, targets to operate 100 lounges worldwide by year-end. Plaza Premium Lounge founder and chief executive officer Song Hoi See said the company would set up new lounges in Macau, Uganda, Vancouver and Edmonton in Canada this year. In Malaysia, the network should be ready by the second quarter of 2013, including six lounges to be opened in Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, he said after the opening of the Plaza Premium Lounge at the KL International Airport (KLIA) yesterday. A total of RM3.8mil was invested in the lounge covering 7,500 sq ft. Customers are charged RM128 for two hours or RM168 for five hours to enjoy facilities including shower rooms, a massage area, buffet and a business centre. The lounge can serve up to 500 guests per day, said Song, who is a Malaysian entrepreneur based in Hong Kong. It targets 85% of flight passengers who travelled by economy class as they do not have access to lounge services unlike business or first class travellers. Plaza Premium Lounge is also bidding to set up a lounge in KLIA 2 which is expected to be operational in May 2013. Besides airports in Malaysia, it has also partnered with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to set up lounges in New Delhi, India where MAHB has a stake in the Indira Gandhi International Airport. MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said the services provided by Plaza Premium Lounge bode well with KLIA's aim to offer first-class travelling experience. He also commended Plaza Premium Lounge for being a pioneer in setting up commercial lounges to serve passengers from different airlines. "These are the kind of partners that MAHB would really like to have... Partners who can join hands with us to serve the needs of the passengers and the airlines," he said. Meanwhile, MAHB senior general manager (commercial services) Faizah Khairuddin said that the KLIA main terminal targeted 7% to 8% year-on-year growth in terms of the number of passengers served in 2012. She added that the rate should be higher in the second half compared with the first half in the aviation industry. |
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