Farewell to LCCT, KLIA2 now fully opened.

KLIA2 (stands for Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2) is finally opened early this month after years of problems like increasing budget, construction delays and multiple defects in the past. This new terminal that could handle 45 million passengers per year (in comparison to 25 million for KLIA and 15 million for LCCT) is specially built to accommodate increasing usage of low-cost carriers locally and internationally. With its biggest user, AirAsia moving in to the new airport today, it’s time to say goodbye to LCCT! LCCT, you are now out of the picture! It will be now changed to a cargo terminal.

LCCT (low-cost carrier terminal) situated nearby KLIA too had been operating for around 8 years. It is more like a huge factory building, with poor facilities (air-conditioning, counters, etc). I have been there several times. I always feel not comfortable and suffocating inside LCCT, as it is always crowded with people. AirAsia is expanding so quick that the terminal couldn’t hold the increasing volume of passengers anymore. Hence, there came the idea and realization of KLIA2. Yup…Malaysians are now in favour more on low-cost flight than spending extra on Malaysia Airlines, especially now after the MH370 incident. KLIA now must be emptier than ever.

Except than the predicted chaos on the first few days of KLIA2’s operation (typical to newly opening airport), the new airport has been receiving very positive feedbacks. The huge terminal (measured to be over 250 000 square metres) is now very spacious and looks contemporary (this is what airport should looks like even for low-cost usage). The facilities are all good (I hope it lasts long). And the best thing of this new airport is that it has over 30 000 square metres of space for over 220 retail outlets too. Hence, you would feel like you are in a mall rather than in an airport. Enjoy and relax before or after your flight.

 

I still didn’t know whether all the retail spaces (shops and restaurants) have been fully opened as I have not been there yet. Kindly update me if you have visited the airport. But just by looking at the pictures above, the airport looks great! I think I would be heading there on this coming Hari Raya break for an oversea trip. Still in planning now. Anyway, the airport also has over 6000 covered parking lots as compared to the 3000 outdoor parking lots from LCCT last time. That’s a double increase. Good. Last time, everytime I was leaving LCCT, I would see extremely long stretch of cars parked by the side of the roads leading to the terminal as far as 1 kilometre away. Crazy.

It’s a good thing that KLIA2 (built at a cost of approximately RM 4 billion) is now fully operational. It is the world’s largest airport purposely built to cater for low-cost carriers and it is designed also with future capacity expansion capability. It has 60 depature gates, 8 remote stands, 80 aerobridges, and a new 4-km long airplane runway. The terminal comes with a 141.3 metres tall air traffic control tower, making it the tallest of its kind in the world too. The main terminal building is connected with its satellite piers with a skybridge, making it the first airport in Asia of such facility. KLIA2 is connected to KLIA (2-km away) by a railway line. The airport is also certified in Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). That’s some of the achievements for KLIA2.

Looking forward to visit this new airport terminal soon. You may share your first time experience in KLIA2 at here too. And last but not least; Bye, LCCT!

(Information and images in this post are from various sources throughout the world wide web)

Heading to KLIA2 tomorrow. Nope, still LCCT.

Tomorrow, my company is organizing a study trip to Bali. The main objective is to explore and study on the architecture (from layout to details) in Bali, particularly from the contemporary villas and hotels there. In past few days, I had already done a bit of research and I’m quite fascinated by not only of the natural beauty there but also from the villas’ designs. I would be updating my blog on my findings once I’m back from this short four-days trip.

After working for a half-day tomorrow, we would be heading to LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) as the flight we had is of AirAsia. Everytime I stepped my foot into the terminal, there is always this question that comes to my mind; ‘How can an airport terminal looks like this? It’s like a cheap factory building.’ It’s stuffy and hot inside. Crowded. Poor facilities. Etc. Well, we couldn’t complain further as this is a LOW COST terminal for low-cost flight. Unless you wish to spend more, then you will be in the much luxurious and elegant KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), just besides the LCCT (shown below).

Construction of klia2, a new airport terminal to replace the existing LCCT began few years back and is scheduled to be completed last year. However, due to various delays (as expected for mega-constructions in Malaysia), the date of opening has been postponed to May this year. Even some parties were still unsure whether this final deadline could be met. Curiosity leads me to look for latest updates regarding this terminal, and here below are some recent images I found. It looks almost fully completed and is quite a huge complex.

 

It’s quite a beautiful terminal. Way much better than the current LCCT. Looks great! At least it doesn’t looks cheap or awful and it fits for AirAsia that has been awarded the world’s best low-cost airline for few consecutive years. Besides that, airport is very important as it is the first stop for tourists and it will give them their first impression of the country. Once completed, the old LCCT will be converted to cargo terminal. Too bad, for tomorrow, we still couldn’t enjoy the facilities offered by klia2. Have to stick back to LCCT.

(Images in this post are from various sources throughout the world wide web)

First impression of what KLIA2 is going to look like

The construction of KLIA2 (Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2) began few years ago when there is a need to replace the existing Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), situated nearby the state-of-the-art KLIA. The existing low-cost carrier terminal couldn’t handle increasing number of passengers and the demand for a new airport terminal rises to allow further growth of both Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, the low-cost carrier airline of Malaysia.

(Image above from http://cyrildason.com/2010/08/30/klia2-design-our-new-lcct/..but I think the design has been modified to simpler version)

KLIA2 would be ready for opening a year later as scheduled, and the construction is now underway to bring KLIA2 from proposal into reality on a vast plot of land nearby the existing KLIA. I believe the existing LCCT would be demolished and I strongly agree to the decision of having a new terminal for AirAsia after its collaboration with Malaysia Airlines. The existing LCCT looks more like a low-cost factory building rather than a terminal that also serves international flights. Eventhough it is a low-cost carrier terminal, but the building itself shouldn’t be that ‘low-cost’ as well, but anyway, I believe AirAsia started with very less modal in hand, and so they can only afford to build that factory-like terminal years ago. The old LCCT look: (Image credit: taxilcctairport.com)

Now, after in collaboration with Malaysia Airlines, opportunity is granted to build KLIA2 to cater more flights and passengers as well as to get rid of the dilapidated look of the previous LCCT which is going to give early bad impression of the nation to oversea visitors too. Ahh, only after cooperation with the government, then only proposal of new terminal comes into consideration. Hope you know what I mean. AirAsia is now quite well-received by people planning for trips due to its lower cost imposed. Anyway, let us see the design of the new KLIA2, as seen from the two videos below.

The 242,000 m2 terminal will be the largest purpose-built dedicated terminal for low cost carriers in the world. Built to handle initially 30 million passengers, it has the flexibility to allow expansion to cater for future growth and changes to the operational models of airlines. Located only 2 km away from the current Main Terminal Building as per the recommendation of the National Airport Master Plan (NAMP), the new terminal allows for easy inter-terminal transfer and better connectivity between the two terminals. The terminal design will incorporate modern features which include the Pedestrian Skybridge, which is the first in Asia, and third in the world.

The terminal will be built to meet the Green Building Index certification. The design of the terminal embraces the concept of Eco Air Terminal, synonymous with the eco-friendly and green building technology widely planned for the development of this airport. This is owing to the design concept of the terminal, which applies sustainable architecture; green building, and energy- efficiency in most aspects of its development and construction processes. (From: http://www.fenestra.com.my/projects.aspx?pageid=19&categoryid=4&status=current&projectid=1&projectcategoryid=4)

What do you think of the design of the new terminal including the interior appearance? Things look nice from the clips above but in reality, who knows they cut off the budget, and the final appearance won’t be the same anymore with the one presented in computer renderings shown. Anyway, I like the overall design of the new terminal, it’s not too grand or humble either. Now I’m guessing who is the architect behind it? After a bit of search, the design is from unknown local architecture firms. The existing KLIA looks fantastic and impressive in architecture, and it is designed by a famous Japanese architect, Kisho Kurokawa. I still remember the concept of ‘forest in a city’ applied to the master design of KLIA. That is brilliant. KLIA is one of the most beautiful airports I have ever seen after been travelling so much and having able to visit many other international airports before.

I think they wouldn’t make KLIA2 a letdown too. So, I think this new terminal of KLIA2 would be a great addition to the existing KLIA, which would further strengthen the airport’s status as one of the world’s most beautiful airports as well as one of the world largest too. I can see KLIA is now already one of the nation’s landmarks, and KLIA2 would further uplifts that image. But now comes issue of rising cost of constructing KLIA2 as the budget jumped to worrying figure. That is very usual in Malaysia. They already modified the design to simpler version earlier to cut costs, and what’s next in their plan to reduce their burden on budget issue? So, design is always determined and limited by the finance, not the imagination of the designers/architects. Do you agree?