KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia government has given the go-ahead to Firefly, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, to operate from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the Cabinet had decided that the Penang-based Firefly could fly to all domestic destinations not served by Malaysia Airlines and budget carrier AirAsia and to destinations in Indonesia and Thailand from Subang.
The government is also studying Firefly’s request to operate from Senai and Kota Kinabalu.
Chan said the services would be provided by turbo prop or propeller-powered planes as the airport has been designated for short-haul flights.
Currently, Firefly flies twice daily to Langkawi, Kota Baharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Phuket and Koh Samui.
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport – previously known as the Subang International Airport – was the country’s main international gateway from 1965 until 1998 before the international airport shifted to Sepang.
Since then, the airport has catered for turbo-prop planes, chartered flights and helicopter services.
In another development, Laos and Malaysia have agreed to allow direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Vientiane.
