Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Exterior view of the newly refurbished Subang skypark terminal from the pavement | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | MASB/Government of Malaysia | ||||||||||
| Serves | Greater Kuala Lumpur | ||||||||||
| Location | Subang, Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia | ||||||||||
| Opened | 30 August 1965 | ||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||
| Focus city for | Berjaya Air | ||||||||||
| Time zone | MST (UTC+08:00) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 27 m / 89 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 03°07′52″N 101°32′53″E / 3.13111°N 101.54806°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  SZB/WMSA  SZB/WMSA SZB/WMSA (Peninsular Malaysia)  SZB/WMSA SZB/WMSA (Malaysia)  SZB/WMSA SZB/WMSA (Southeast Asia)  SZB/WMSA SZB/WMSA (Asia) | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2020) | |||||||||||
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Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (IATA: SZB, ICAO: WMSA) also known as Subang SkyPark,[3] — formerly Subang International Airport/Kuala Lumpur International Airport, often called Subang Airport — is an airport located in Subang, Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia. Serving as the main airport for Kuala Lumpur from 1965 to 1998, it was eventually replaced by the newer Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
The airport serves as a central hub for regional and charter carriers, including Firefly and Berjaya Air. It continues to attract travelers from Kuala Lumpur due to its proximity to the city center and convenient location in the Klang Valley.
As of 2024, jet services have returned to Subang, linking Subang to several regional destinations. It remains an important center for general aviation and domestic flights, with ongoing plans for further development.
Background and Development
[edit]
Planning and Construction
[edit]The construction of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, initially named Subang International Airport, commenced in 1961 and was completed in 1965 at a cost of approximately RM52 million (then equivalent to $64 million).[4] Built on 535 hectares of land, the airport was part of a larger government initiative to establish a modern international gateway for Malaysia. The decision was made in 1960, recognizing the need for a new, larger airport to replace the aging Sungai Besi Airport.[5]
Designed by architects Kington Loo and C.H.R. Bailey of the Booty Edwards Architectural practice, the airport featured an innovative and unique architectural design.[6] The iconic floating concrete shell roof, supported by mushroom-shaped columns, became one of its defining features. Additionally, a circular ramp, inspired by the penguin pavilion at London Zoo by Berthold Lubetkin, provided a distinctive visual focal point, contributing to the airport's architectural identity.
On August 30, 1965, the airport officially opened its doors, becoming Malaysia's primary international gateway. The inauguration ceremony was attended by more than 1,500 guests and was officiated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail.[5] The first commercial flight to land at the airport, a Malaysian Airways Silver Kris (De Havilland Comet) from Singapore, arrived at 8:15 a.m. on the following Wednesday.[6]
The airport's runway, measuring (3,780 m (12,401 ft 7 in) long, 45 m (147 ft 8 in) wide – runway 15 – 33), was the longest in Southeast Asia at the time, making it capable of handling large, long-haul aircraft. With this infrastructure, Subang International Airport replaced the Sungai Besi Airport (also known as Sempang Airport), which had served as the main airport for Kuala Lumpur before its closure.[5]
Growth and Expansion
[edit]
After its inauguration in 1965, Subang International Airport quickly became Malaysia's primary aviation hub, handling both international and domestic flights. During the 1970s and 1980s, the airport underwent several expansions to meet the growing demand for air travel in the country.
One of the most significant renovations began in 1980, with the goal of modernising and expanding the airport. This expansion resulted in the removal of several original design features, including the distinctive circular ramp and sections of the floating roof. These changes were implemented to accommodate the growing number of passengers and meet increasing operational demands.[7]
The renovation progressed slowly at first, causing frustration for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. To expedite the process, he instructed that Terminal 2 be extended to handle all airport operations, allowing Terminal 1 to undergo complete renovations.[7]
The upgraded Terminal 1, unveiled on June 1, 1983, was celebrated for its "ultra-modern" features, which were considered groundbreaking at the time. These included a baggage trolley conveyor, nose-in aircraft parking apron, 12 aerobridges, duty-free shops and walkalators. The introduction of aerobridges marked a major improvement, eliminating the need for passengers to board aircraft via stairs, though it also ended the tradition of waving off passengers from the viewing gallery. This gallery was eventually closed off for security reasons, with passengers now being seen off behind double-glazed glass.[7]
On December 1, 1989, Terminal 2 took over all domestic flights. It continued to handle domestic services until December 16, 1993, when Terminal 3 assumed responsibility.[7]
By the 1993, Subang Airport had three terminals:[5]
- Terminal 1: Dedicated to international flights.
- Terminal 2: Used primarily for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore shuttle flights operated by Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
- Terminal 3: Focused on domestic flights, improving the efficiency of both domestic and international operations.
The airport’s growth continued through the 1990s, with Subang handling a record 15.8 million passengers by the end of 1997. In recognition of the airport's significance, it was renamed Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in 1996, after the then Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj, who also served as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.[5]
Despite these advancements, the airport faced operational challenges as it continued to handle a rising volume of air traffic. In particular, Subang was affected by two major fires in the 1990s that disrupted its operations. The first fire occurred in April 1992, resulting in the deaths of three security guards from the Civil Aviation Department and causing significant damage to 29 duty-free shops. The loss was estimated between RM20 million and RM30 million. Investigations revealed that the fire was caused by faulty wiring carried out by unqualified contractors. Another fire broke out in the airport's control tower in October 1992, destroying critical radar systems, computers and other equipment worth over RM2 million. A former assistant air traffic controller was later convicted for causing the fire and sentenced to 10 years in prison.[5]
As Subang's capacity continued to be stretched, the Malaysian government recognised the need for a new, larger airport to accommodate future growth. This led to the development of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which officially opened in 1998. KLIA took over Subang's role as the country’s primary international gateway and Subang's operations were scaled back to regional and domestic flights.[5]
Post-KLIA Transition
[edit]With Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) taking over as Malaysia’s primary international gateway in 1998, Subang Airport’s role significantly diminished. In response to this shift, the government initiated a redevelopment strategy, leading to the demolition of Terminal 1 in 2003.[8]
Despite interest from AirAsia in establishing Subang as its operational base in 2004, the government maintained a policy limiting the airport’s use to general aviation and turboprop flights.[9] This restriction ultimately set the stage for Subang Airport’s rebranding as Subang Skypark, redefining it as a hub focused on general and corporate aviation rather than mainstream commercial travel. This transformation allowed the facility to pivot towards serving private and regional aviation needs, positioning it as a key center for corporate aviation services in Malaysia.
Skypark Terminal Transformation Plan
[edit]
In December 2007, Subang SkyPark Sdn Bhd announced a RM300 million transformation plan to revamp Terminal 3, enhancing its appeal as a corporate aviation hub.[10][11] The project included the construction of a five-star executive lounge, expanded hangar facilities and improved infrastructure to support maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. The renovation added two large MRO hangars and ten parking hangars, making Subang an attractive base for private and corporate aviation.
The transformation included amenities for passengers and operators, such as additional office space, lecture rooms and a cafeteria within the new hangars.[12] VistaJet, a global private jet service provider, chose Subang Skypark as its Malaysian base in August 2008, offering business jet services to destinations worldwide.[13] In 2009, a RM40 million facelift was given to Subang Airport’s check-in terminals. While parking capacity remained a concern, valet services were introduced, with daily parking fees set at RM25. The airport saw further enhancements in accessibility when a rail link to Kuala Lumpur Sentral, operated by KTM Komuter, was added in 2018. This provided travelers a convenient transit option from central Kuala Lumpur.
On October 28, 2009, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officiated the renovated Subang Skypark Terminal. He expressed confidence in Subang's potential to become a regional ASEAN hub, with a target of serving two million passengers annually.[14]
Apart from passenger and cargo airline operations, SkyPark Terminal hosts a range of additional aviation services, including charter flight operators, flying clubs, helicopter services and the fixed-base operator, Dnest Aviation Services. Notable flying clubs based at the airport include Subang Flying Club, Air Adventure Flying Club and ESB Flying Club. Eurocopter operates a support facility at the airport, servicing helicopters for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. The headquarters of Berjaya Air is located within the Berjaya Hangar at SkyPark Terminal.
Resumption of Jet Services
[edit]In July 2024, the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport announced the resumption of jet operations after a hiatus of 22 years. Starting August 1, 2024, five airlines—AirAsia, Firefly, TransNusa, Batik Air Malaysia and Scoot—began operating flights from Subang to regional destinations. This marks a significant shift from the airport's previous focus on turboprop, helicopter and private jet operations. The decision to redevelop Subang as a city airport was made in response to the growing demand at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which is operating at full capacity.[15]
To accommodate the resumption of jet services, the airport’s infrastructure was upgraded, including the reconfiguration of the apron to accommodate narrow-body aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The terminal’s floor area was also expanded and new check-in counters and self-service kiosks were introduced to improve passenger experience. Subang’s passenger capacity is expected to double to 3 million annually with these upgrades.[15]
As part of the redevelopment efforts, the Skypark Link commuter train service, which connects Subang to KL Sentral, is also being considered for reinstatement to enhance connectivity. The long-term Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP), approved in 2023, envisions further developments, including an aerospace ecosystem, business aviation facilities and a drone test site, with completion expected by 2030.[15]
Airlines and destinations
[edit]Passenger
[edit]Traffic and statistics
[edit]| Year | Passengers handled |
Passenger % change |
Cargo (metric tonnes) |
Cargo % change |
Aircraft movements |
Aircraft % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 11,343,648 |  |
262,053 | |
137,871 |
|
| 1995 | 12,776,877 |  12.6 |
325,871 | 24.4 |
146,248 | 6.1
|
| 1996 | 14,556,879 | 13.9 |
372,339 | 14.3 |
163,493 | 11.8
|
| 1997 | 15,819,863 | 8.7 |
413,695 | 11.1 |
162,652 |  0.5
|
| 1998 | 8,263,930 | 47.8 |
166,794 | 59.7 |
88,882 | 45.3
|
| 1999 | 1,999,302 | 75.8 |
14,069 | 91.6 |
27,753 | 68.8
|
| 2000 | 2,100,727 | 5.1 |
15,893 | 13.0 |
38,129 | 37.4
|
| 2001 | 1,955,688 | 6.9 |
14,445 | 9.1 |
35,691 | 6.4
|
| 2002 | 1,130,169 | 42.2 |
12,261 | 15.1 |
28,170 | 21.1
|
| 2003 | 72,491 | 93.6 |
14,358 | 17.1 |
19,616 | 30.4
|
| 2004 | 90,593 | 25.0 |
18,670 | 30.0 |
22,757 | 16.0
|
| 2005 | 83,602 | 7.7 |
46,082 | 146.8 |
29,668 | 30.4
|
| 2006 | 83,502 | 0.12 |
71,953 | 56.1 |
36,626 | 23.4
|
| 2007 | 95,583 | 14.5 |
63,382 | 11.9 |
44,302 | 21.0
|
| 2008 | 307,747 | 222.0 |
18,473 | 70.8 |
46,989 | 6.1
|
| 2009 | 819,840 | 166.4 |
18,536 | 0.3 |
55,148 | 17.4
|
| 2010 | 1,118,309 | 36.4 |
19,988 | 7.8 |
63,616 | 15.3
|
| 2011 | 1,320,227 | 18.0 |
19,928 | 0.3 |
68,135 | 7.1
|
| 2012 | 1,442,514 | 9.3 |
22,680 | 13.8 |
74,008 | 8.6
|
| 2013 | 1,859,020 | 28.9 |
26,443 | 16.6 |
80,047 | 8.2
|
| 2014 | 2,762,556 | 48.6 |
28,128 | 6.4 |
91,529 | 14.3
|
| 2015 | 3,059,144 | 10.7 |
31,357 | 11.5 |
95,845 | 4.7
|
| 2016 | 2,834,836 | 7.3 |
36,147 | 15.3 |
94,544 | 1.4
|
| 2017 | 2,880,586 | 1.6 |
36,568 | 1.2 |
98,955 | 4.7
|
| 2018 | 1,964,059 | 31.8 |
32,284 | 11.7 |
80,775 | 18.4
|
| 2019 | 2,259,595 | 15.0 |
34,648 | 7.3 |
80,606 | 0.2
|
| 2020 | 949,934 | 58.0 |
58,260 | 68.1 |
49,454 | 38.6
|
| Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad[26] | ||||||
Ground transportation
[edit]
Airport taxi
[edit]There is a taxi booth inside the terminal building, so arriving passengers can directly go to the booth and get on a taxi.
Bus
[edit]Transit bus
[edit]Buses from Subang Skypark towards Pasar Seni (Central Market) in Kuala Lumpur city center are Rapid KL bus No. 772 (also stops at Asia Jaya LRT station and KL Sentral). The bus ticket costs RM2.50 (Asia Jaya) & RM3.00 (Pasar Seni) and the route operates from 6:00 am till midnight.
Feeder bus
[edit]To serve the newly opened Kelana Jaya extension line and MRT Kajang Line, there is a Rapid KL feeder bus No. T773 route between Ara Damansara LRT Station and Subang Skypark and MRT feeder bus No. T804 route between Kwasa Sentral station and Subang Airport. Fares are fixed at RM1.00.
| Feeder bus no. | Station name | Line name |
|---|---|---|
| T773 | Ara Damansara | Kelana Jaya Line |
| T804 | Kwasa Sentral | Kajang Line |
Airport shuttle bus
[edit]There is also a bus shuttle service between Subang Skypark and Kuala Lumpur International Airport KLIA & KLIA2. The service departs from Subang Skypark from 5am until 7pm. The one-way journey takes around one hour (subject to traffic) and costs RM10 per passenger.
Airport train
[edit]A KTM Komuter shuttle service connecting KL Sentral through Subang Jaya to the terminal was operated between 1 May 2018 to 15 February 2023. This extension is a branch line of the Port Klang Line and provided rail connectivity to the airport that is currently only served by other kinds of road transportation. The line is 26 km long and has three stations: KL Sentral, Subang Jaya and Terminal Skypark with two planned stations - Glenmarie, Sri Subang.[27][28] However, the Subang Skypark airport train system was suspended from 15 February 2023 due to the low ridership.[29]
Accidents and incidents
[edit]- 11 May 1976 – British Airways Flight 888, a Boeing 747-100 from London to Melbourne via Bahrain, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, was on approach to Runway 15 when it flew below the normal flight path, hitting trees 2.2 nautical miles before the runway threshold. On landing, inspection of the aircraft revealed damage on the main landing gear; strike marks on the fuselage and engine intakes; and evidence of debris ingestion on the two left-side engines.[30]
- 27 September 1977 – Japan Airlines Flight 715, a Douglas DC-8, crashed into a hill in bad weather while attempting to land on Runway 15. 34 people, including 8 of the 10 crew members and 26 of the 69 passengers, were killed when the aircraft broke on impact.
- 18 December 1983 – Malaysian Airline System Flight 684, an Airbus A300 from Singapore crashed 2 km short of the runway while approaching Runway 15 in bad weather. There were no fatalities, but the aircraft was written off. Ironically, the aircraft was operating its last scheduled flight for Malaysian Airline System, before being returned to its original operator, Scandinavian Airlines System.[31]
- 19 February 1989 – Flying Tiger Line Flight 66, a Boeing 747-200F from Singapore crashed 12 kilometres from the airport while on approach to Runway 33. The pilots misinterpreted the controller's instructions to descend, causing the aircraft to fly below minimum altitude and crash into a hillside on the outskirts of Puchong. All four flight crew were killed.[32]
- 18 March 2019 – At approximately 3.20am, an accident had happened on the runway of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport Subang involving a privately owned Bombardier Challenger 300 and an airport engineering vehicle. The vehicle was on the runway to escort contractors fixing the lighting of the runway when the airport staff driving it fell asleep while waiting for the contractors to finish their work. The contractors vacated the runway upon seeing the landing lights of the approaching aircraft while the airport staff in the vehicle had died from the incident a few days later. Two air traffic controllers were suspended due to the incident.[33][34]
- 24 March 2021 - At 9.25am, an Airbus AS350 B3 helicopter crashed at the airport. There were five people on board, including one pilot and four passengers. All the victims were taken to the hospital for further treatment, two persons were reportedly injured and one suffered a broken leg and head injury. It left Sungai Lembing in Pahang at 8.30am and was on a private flight to Subang via Maran, Temerloh, Karak and the Batu Caves. A safety investigation will be conducted by Malaysia's Air Accident Investigation Bureau.[35]
- 17 August 2023 - At 2.51pm, N28JV, a Beechcraft Premier I crashed at a highway two minutes drive from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. There were 10 casualties involving eight people on the aircraft including YB Datuk Seri Johari Harun and two people on the highway. The aircraft departed Langkawi International Airport at 2.08pm heading to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.[36]
Other shared facilities
[edit]- AIROD is located north of the passenger terminal and occupies the land there.
- RMAF Subang Air Base is located on the western side of the runway, shared with the MMEA hangar.
- Various hangars storing corporate jets are located south of the Passenger Terminal.
- The Police Air Unit base for Peninsular Malaysia is located at the extreme south of the airfield, the latest addition after shifting there from Sungai Besi Air Base in 2018.
References
[edit]- ^ Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
- ^ WMSA – SUBANG/SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia
- ^ "Subang SkyPark", Subang SkyPark, 2019, retrieved 13 November 2024
- ^ Kumar, Prem (29 August 1965). "All Set for Airport Opening". The Straits Times: 9.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Airport had the longest runway", New Strait Times, 21 September 2020, retrieved 13 November 2024
- ^ a b Kumar, Prem (29 August 1965). "All Set for Airport Opening". The Straits Times: 9.
- ^ a b c d "Goodbye Subang airport, hello KLIA" (PDF), New Strait Times, 1998, retrieved 13 November 2024
- ^ "New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ AirAsia a key player in changing aviation landscape Archived 7 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ RM300m to transform Terminal 3 Archived 7 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Malaysia Business & Finance News, Stock Updates | The Star Online". thestar.com.my.
- ^ "Work on Subang Skypark begins". Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
- ^ Vista Jet picks Subang to be Asian hub Archived 8 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "SkyPark a model airport, says Najib". The Star. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009.
- ^ a b c "Jets to soar over Subang airspace once again starting Aug 1", The Star, 31 July 2024, retrieved 13 November 2024
- ^ "AirAsia will start its twice daily flight service out of Subang to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching beginning 30 August". nst.com.my. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Batik Air Malaysia Adds Kuala Lumpur Subang – Kota Bharu from Late-Oct 2024". Aeroroutes. 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Batik Air to resume Subang to Penang route from Aug 1". malaymail.com. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "New direct flight from Subang Airport (Kuala Lumpur) to the Taaras Beach & Spa Resort at Redang Island, Malaysia". 24 February 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Fabulous Cats Performs at Senai Airport | Firefly Airline".
- ^ "Firefly starting jet ops from Subang Airport Aug 29, 2024". nst.com.my. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Ian Cheng (23 May 2022). "Low-cost Malaysian carrier Firefly Airlines to resume flights to Singapore from June". CNA.
- ^ "Scoot to launch Subang flights with A320 aircraft". Business Traveller. Business Traveller Media Limited. 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Singapore's budget airline Scoot to fly to Singapore via Subang from Sept 1, bookings open now". malaymail.com. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Indonesia's TransNusa to fly out of Subang Airport in Aug". nst.com.my. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Malaysia Airports: Airports Statistics 2020" (PDF). malaysiaairports. April 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ priya menon (8 August 2014). "Work on railway line from Subang airport to KL Sentral has begun - Community | The Star Online". Thestar.com.my. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "PROJEK LANDASAN KERETAPI DARI SUBANG KE TERMINAL SKYPARK SUBANG | Laman Web Rasmi Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat". S.P.A.D. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Skypark Link service suspended from Feb 15". New Straits Times. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "AAIB Investigation Report – Boeing 747 G-AWNC" (PDF).
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A300B4-120 OY-KAA Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL)". aviation-safety.net.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-249F N807FT Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL)". aviation-safety.net.
- ^ "Accident On The Runway Of Subang Airport".
- ^ "Subang runway crash: Pilot says was given clearance to land". 22 March 2019.
- ^ "2 injured after helicopter crashes at Selangor's Subang Airport".
- ^ "Plane crashes at a highway near Elmina". freemalaysiatoday.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
External links
[edit]
