{"id":5498,"date":"2018-08-27T15:05:08","date_gmt":"2018-08-27T19:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=5498"},"modified":"2020-05-07T12:37:13","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T16:37:13","slug":"malaysias-klia-airport-shutdown-is-excessive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/malaysias-klia-airport-shutdown-is-excessive\/","title":{"rendered":"Malaysia’s KLIA airport shutdown is excessive"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Short:<\/strong> Operations at WMKK\/Kuala Lumpur International Airport\u00a0have been suspended from 0900L-1030L every day this week (27-31 August). <\/strong>This is to make way for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) to conduct rehearsals for an aerial flypast that will be part of Malaysia’s National Day parade.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"As we outlined in our daily brief<\/a>, WMKK\/Kuala Lumpur<\/strong> International Airport (KLIA) is being shutdown this week for 90 minutes everyday, between 9am and 10:30am to allow fly-over “rehearsals” for the National Day parade.<\/p>\n

We think this is excessive.<\/p>\n

The shutdown of a major international gateway airport (the 23rd busiest airport in the world) for 7 and half hours in one week will impact over 498 flight operations<\/a> and thousands of passengers.<\/p>\n

The NOTAM says it all.<\/p>\n

\n
A2434\/18<\/b> - ALL ARR AND DEP SUSPENDED DUE TO NATIONAL DAY 2018 REHEASALS AND \r\nACTUAL FLYING DISPLAYS. 0100-0230, 27 AUG 01:00 2018 UNTIL\r\n31 AUG 02:30 2018. CREATED: 13 AUG 07:13 2018<\/pre>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The central planning committee of the National Day event said:<\/p>\n
“The air space closure is necessary to ensure the smoothness<\/strong> of the 2018 National day flypast practice sessions, but more importantly, the safety<\/strong> of aircraft flying in and out of KLIA.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\"\"We are all about safety here. But to shutdown such a big chunk of airspace and totally suspended flying operations at 9am at such a big airport for a whole week seems particularly extreme.\u00a0 This is not a small isolated airport, this is a large 3 runway complex with A380’s coming and going.<\/p>\n
This isn’t the first time such a move has happened here. In September 2016, the airport was closed for several hours a day<\/a> to conduct an “aerial survey”.<\/p>\n
This time, we understand, there was limited to no industry consultation with the onus being on the airlines and operators to notify affected customers<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Malaysia’s Transport Minister simple asked that \u201cI hope all airlines will notify their passengers about this and reschedule their flights.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\"\"He finished by saying\u00a0“this was inevitable as we are celebrating our Independence Day”.<\/em><\/p>\n
We say no<\/strong>– shutting down a major airport for nearly 7 hours to practise some flying displays is not “inevitable<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n
What do you think? Do you know more, please\u00a0let us know<\/a><\/strong>!<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
If you need to get into KL during these times,\u00a0WMSA\/SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ SHAH INTL<\/strong> is a good alternative.<\/p>\n
Extra Reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n