February 2021
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CONTENTS - FEBRUARY 2021 Airport Talk China Airlines Sets 777F in New Era Air New Zealand to Begin Airport GCEO Speaks 47 of Cargo Operations 51 Quarantine-Free Flights to Brisbane 55 On-track Preparation for Malaysia’s Emirates Launches its New A380 SAUDIA Receives Diamond Status Covid-19 Vaccination Rollout 48 with Premium Economy to London 52 for Health Safety 56 Amadeus and Star Alliance Unite Aviation News to Make Touchless Travel More Aviation Interview STARLUX Airlines Launches Inaugural Accessible 53 Aviation Interview with Flight to KUL 49 Qantas and Japan Airlines to Mohamad Asif Abd Talib Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Malaysia Airlines Launches New Form Joint Business to Drive Pos Aviation Sdn Bhd 58 Online Platform 50 Tourism Recovery 54 AD 01 AIRPORT TALK Airport GCEO Speaks A corporate leader with diverse experience, he is harnessing the latest technological advances to spur Malaysia Airports to greater heights as a smart aviation regional hub. This month, Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh shares how the airport operator is ever prepared to deal with all eventualities, including the annual Northeast monsoon alongside its efforts to upgrade the facilities at and around the KL International Airport (KLIA) amidst the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. s a responsible airport operator Meanwhile, we have also made sure that automatically as it passes through the and caring host, we have been the drive to KL International Airport (KLIA) conveyor system to the reclaim area. A doing extensive preparation in is brighter and safer as part of our ongoing Using UV short wavelength, this technology terms of flood mitigation measures at our enhancement of street lights within its vicinity has been proven to effectively eliminate seven airports in Kuala Terengganu, Kota and to ensure our guests have a seamless surface contaminants such as mould, Bharu, Kuantan, Ipoh, Alor Setar, Penang journey to and from the airport. This exercise, bacteria and other microbial biofilms. and Kota Kinabalu, which are likely to be which started since last October, is almost We are installing four UV tunnels to help affected by the monsoon season that falls near completion. mitigate the risk from infectious airborne between November and March. microbial contaminants for both our So far, 2,000 street light poles and railing passengers and staff responsible for We recently completed the installation light fittings along the main roads around our baggage handling. of a portable submersible water pump flagship airport have been rectified. Working and generator at the Sultan Mahmud closely with the Public Works Department, The latest statistics on our passenger Airport in Terengganu to complement its we will also be rectifying the wire and guard movement last December for our Malaysia two existing pump houses and to steer rails, resurfacing the roads and repainting operations is a cause for celebration with excess water into the sea. Although line markings along these roads. seven new local flight routes boosting this airport has not been affected by domestic traffic by three-fold compared to floods before, we believe in taking extra KLIA is also undergoing a major the month before, where we saw over a precautions to ensure that its essential upgrading of its baggage handling system million passengers travelling domestically. services for our valued guests are not (BHS) using ultra-violet (UV) technology as compromised. it readies itself to serve a larger capacity The spike in Covid-19 cases in the country more efficiently and when travel resumes and the recently announced imposition These efforts are part of our airport to normalcy. Exploring new technologies of tighter travel restrictions are expected customised Flood Emergency Response and the latest global practices is part of our to impact our passenger movements in Plan, where we have also ensured that commitment to ensure a safe and smooth the coming months. Nevertheless, I would our airports’ drainage system is clear of passenger journey. like to reassure that we, at Malaysia debris and blockage for excess water to Airports, are always ready and committed easily flow out from its premise. The UV bulbs, installed in an enclosed to maintain the highest levels of safety at tunnel within the BHS, disinfect the baggage our airports. 47 AIRPORT TALK On-track Preparation for A Monthly Publication Of MALAYSIA Malaysia’s Covid-19 AIRPORTS © Aviation Marketing and Development Division Vaccination Rollout Advisor Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh he worst of the novel coronavirus Managing Editor Mohamed Sallauddin Hj. Mat Sah (Covid-19) pandemic in Malaysia is far T from over with the Movement Control Editorial & Concept Order (MCO) 2.0 now extended nationwide Octagon Creative except for the state of Sarawak, which comes [email protected] under Conditional MCO. Advertising & Production Noor Hafiza Ruslan States like Kedah, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, [email protected] Terengganu and Pahang have their MCO running from 22 January until 4 February Mohd Faizal Md Haris while the rest had theirs from 13-26 January [email protected] except for Kelantan, which was placed under MCO from 23-29 January. Design & Distribution Mediate Communications Sdn. Bhd. Status of vaccination programme Since last October, Malaysia has been in the On the country’s vaccination programme, MALAYSIA AIRPORTS HOLDINGS third wave of the pandemic with the country Muhyiddin assures that is on-track. So BERHAD (487092-W) breaching the 4,000 mark with 4,029 daily far, the government has signed three Airline Marketing Division Covid-19 cases on 16 January. This was agreements with vaccine manufacturers. Level 3, Arrival Hall (Domestic) reached earlier than the mid-February timeline Among them is the United States Main Terminal Building projected by the Health Ministry based on its pharmaceutical group Pfizer, which will KL International Airport epidemiological modelling. deliver 12.8 million doses of Covid-19 64000 Sepang vaccines for 20% or 6.4 million of the Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Epidemiologist Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba population. Tel : 603-8776 4949 Awang Mahmud reportedly warns, “We need Fax : 603-8776 4040 to institute steps that will prepare us for the next Under the preliminary purchasing Email : marketing@malaysiaairports. wave. If we do not do something about these agreement signed last November with com.my issues, then the time we are buying with MCO Pfizer, Malaysia will receive a million doses 2.0 will be squandered again.” in the first quarter of 2021 followed by 1.7 million doses the following quarter. A week after the government’s declaration of a state of emergency on 11 January, Prime Another 5.8 million doses will be delivered Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin in the third quarter and 4.3 million doses unveiled 22 initiatives under the RM15 in the fourth quarter. Delivery of Malaysia’s billion PERMAI Assistance Package aimed vaccine orders with other manufacturers are at combating Covid-19, supporting business also staggered. continuity and looking into the welfare of Malaysians. Hopefully, Malaysia will be able to receive its first batch of vaccines from Pfizer by Among the initiatives, the government has end-February as mentioned in Muhyiddin’s agreed to provide a special discount of PERMAI speech on 18 January as AFP 10% on electricity bills from January to March had reported a few days earlier Pfizer’s to hotel operators, theme parks, convention Covid-19 vaccine deliveries to Norway centres, shopping malls, local airline offices as and Europe have been reduced while the well as travel and tour agencies to help cushion company ramps up its production capacity. Covid-19’s impact on these business sectors. 48 AIRPORT TALK According to the Prime Minister, Malaysia’s vaccination programme, to be implemented in phases, will take over 12 months. “Malaysia is confident also of MABkargo’s ability to Understandably, other industry players such is expected to meet its target of vaccinating support other governments worldwide in the as the Pos Aviation Sdn Bhd will be supporting more than 80% of its population or close to 27 safe handling, transportation and distribution MABkargo in the vaccine distribution. million people by the first quarter of 2022.” of the vaccine. According to an industry source, a lot would depend on how the logistics for the vaccine A total of RM3 billion has been allocated for Apart from its three dedicated freighter distribution will be handled, where the Health the National Immunisation Programme, with aircraft, MABkargo also uses MAB’s Ministry has decided its vaccine hub will be the first batch, comprising frontline workers passenger aircraft belly, which can provide and the hub’s readiness. from the healthcare and security sectors, a temperature-controlled environment in expected to be vaccinated by early March. its cargo holds that is suitable for vaccines With regular scheduled commercial flights that typically require beyond freezing point still down by 50% to 60% in most parts of the To ensure effective implementation of temperature packaging and handling. world, Aviation Week Network flight analyst Malaysia’s vaccination programme, Science, and fleet forecaster Daniel Williams foresees Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Izham adds, “Our capabilities include aircraft the use of smaller feeder aircraft assisting in Jamaluddin, who co-chairs the Special unit load device containers which are specially the vaccine distribution, particularly