SATS to lure more cargo airlines to Senai Airport

THE Senai Airport Terminal Services (SATS) plans to aggressively encourage more cargo airlines to establish operations at Malaysia's southernmost airport of Senai.

Senai Airport deputy CEO Shahrull Alam Shah said increased connectivity at the Senai Airport would enable Malaysia to address the longstanding problem of cargo leakages to neigbouring countries, reports Bernama.

Currently he said more than 30 per cent of Malaysia's cargo was shipped overseas through a neighbouring country's airport and port.

Many shippers are still sending their cargoes through a neigbouring country, but as we (SATS) increase the connectivity at Senai Airport we can entice them to use our airport instead.

As we develop our connectivity, hopefully we can plug the (nation's cargo) leakages, he was quoted as saying after the recent signing of an agreement between SATS and US-based Logistics Air Inc.

The agreement between Mr Shahrull and the owner of Logistic's Kevin Cooyar covered the relocation of the company's main overseas base from RKT International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Senai Airport, the report said.

Mr Shahrull said SATS was also in the midst of approaching several air cargo operators to set up operations in Senai Airport.

Under the terms of agreement signed, Logistic Air will initially lease 3.5 acres for the use of its main overseas base outside the US with an option to further lease an additional 6.5 acres for its future expansion.

According to Mr Shahrull, the deal with Logistic Air fits well into the overall SATS's Aviation and Airport City development plans.

Logistic Air's decision to choose Senai as its main overseas base clearly demonstrates the potential that they see in the airport and its location. It will definitely help to expedite the development of Senai Aviation and Airport City into a world class Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) base, he said.

Source: Schednet