A new low cost terminal (LCCT), catering for low cost airlines such s AirAsia would soon be developed in Kuching with both the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Abang Johari Openg, and AirAsia CEO, Tony Fernandes indicating that such facilities is under consideration.
According to a report by the Borneo Post, Tony said that Kuching is perfect to link several more destinations, saying that AirAsia would connect Jakarta and Bangkok with Kuching in the near future.
Tony also said that Kuching is like the Dubai of South East Asia, being abe to link Australia and North Asia well, since it is located centrally between both regions, saying that he is keen to develop Kuching into a low cost airline hub.
Responding to the proposal by AirAsia, Abang Johari said that the plan to have an LCCT in Kuching is still under discussion but it would definately be approved as long as AirAsia agrees with the Sarawak Governments terms and conditions.
The Borneo Post report also says that Abang Johari has noted that a piece of land has been identified for the purpose of the LCCT, giving a indication that Kuching might just have another airport aside from the current Kuching International Airport which is a full service airport. It is nonetheless worth to note that there has always been talks about expanding the current airport to add in a new LCCT.
If the new LCCT is a go. be it as a new airport, or an extension of the current airport, it would be a definite boom for travel related industries for Kuching, and Sarawak in general, as the city itself has always been referred to as ‘the hidden paradise of Borneo’.
