AirAsia marks historic return to Subang Airport with inaugural flights to Sabah and Sarawak

Photo Caption: (L-R) Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim, Chairman of AirAsia Aviation Group; Bo Lingam, CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group; Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor to AirAsia Aviation Group; Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, Executive Chairman of Capital A, Dato’ Fam Lee Ee, AirAsia X Chairman; Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, Managing Director of AirAsia Malaysia together with AirAsia’s management and Allstars celebrating AirAsia’s inaugural flights arriving and departing from Subang Airport today.

SUBANG, 30 August 2024 - AirAsia today commenced its highly anticipated operations from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (LTSAAS), fondly known as Subang Airport, with inaugural flights to Sabah and Sarawak. This return marks a significant milestone in the airline’s history, reconnecting with its origins 24 years after first launching operations from the same airport.

The maiden flight AK4102 from Kota Kinabalu departed at 6:25 am and arrived at Subang Airport at 9:00 am. The aircraft was greeted with a water cannon salute upon arrival together with a cheer by Capital A and AirAsia’s management teams. The inaugural ceremony was followed by the send-off of the Kuching-bound flight AK4235, which departed Subang Airport at 9:30am.

AirAsia’s return to Subang Airport is expected to significantly enhance connectivity within Malaysia and across the region. In 2023 alone, the airline carried over 14 million guests across its domestic network of 918 flights weekly, and with the addition of Subang, the airline aims to further increase its domestic passenger volume.

Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, Executive Chairman of Capital A said: “Returning to Subang Airport is a deeply emotional moment for all of us at AirAsia. This is where it all began - where we turned our dream of democratising air travel into reality. Standing here today, I am filled with pride as we bring our aircraft back to Subang, not just to honour our past, but to chart a new course for the future. This is a pivotal moment for AirAsia, and we are confident that our return to Subang will mark the beginning of a new chapter in our history - one that will see us reaching new heights and setting new standards in the aviation industry.”

Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor to AirAsia Aviation Group said: “Subang Airport has always held a special place in my heart. It was here that we launched our first steps as a small airline with a big dream. Today, as we return, we do so with the same passion and determination, but with far greater experience and ambition as we explore new growth opportunities for both AirAsia and Capital A with this new beginning.

“The ongoing revitalisation plans for Subang Airport advance Malaysia’s ambition to become a premier aviation hub in the region. Reintroducing narrow-body aircraft operations here is a step towards modernising this historic airport into a vibrant city terminal that will serve as a centre for business travellers. Whilst AirAsia is well poised to expand air connectivity offerings over the years, through our other Capital A businesses - Teleport, AirAsia MOVE, Asia Digital Engineering, Santan, Ground Team Red (GTR) and others - we are committed to contributing to this significant transformation in the country’s aviation landscape.”

Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, Managing Director of AirAsia Malaysia said: “Subang Airport represents the beginning of a dream that continues to grow and evolve. As someone who started my career with AirAsia from this very airport, this return is deeply personal and meaningful. Reestablishing our presence here, starting with these inaugural flights to Sabah and Sarawak, is not only about reconnecting with our past but also about laying the foundation for our future. The airport's strategic location, with its proximity to the city centre and surrounding suburbs, provides an optimal travel experience and greater flexibility for our guests, especially those travelling to and from East Malaysia. We look forward to establishing Subang as AirAsia’s sixth hub in Malaysia in the future, further expanding our footprint and enhancing accessibility for travellers in the region.”

AirAsia’s return to Subang Airport further solidifies its position as the largest airline by capacity in Malaysia and the carrier with the widest domestic network with 40 routes across the country and a total of 1,860 return weekly domestic flights by the end of December 2024.