Tougher Competition for KLIA

According to Skytrax, the winner of the World’s Best Airport Award goes to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). This is followed by Changi International Airport and Incheon International Airport. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was the 9th best airport in the world. Since most of these airports are in Asia, we will see a tougher competition after the implementation of the ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASAM). KLIA was divided into 2 terminals, which is the LCCT and the main KLIA terminal. LCCT is a low cost terminal designed specifically for low cost airlines.

According to Bernama Aviation the KLIA2 project, which is to expand the current LCCT, will be completed and commence operations in April 2013. With the estimated cost between RM 3.6 billion to RM 3.9 billion, the new LCCT will be able to cater for 45 million passengers per annum. This will then be an advantage for KLIA to be more competitive with the other World’s Best Airport in Asia. Since the market trend now shows an increase demand for low cost travel, it is essential for KLIA to provide facilities for low cost airlines. KLIA performance can be evaluated in certain aspects such as facilities provided, passenger comfort level, airport layout plan, and some other aspects.

The facilities in KLIA at the moment are equivalent to international standards. KLIA can even cater the Airbus 380, which is the commonly used largest passenger aircraft by airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Emirates nowadays. But even though at the moment KLIA can cater the A380, the number of A380 that KLIA can cater at a time is still a small number. On the 1st of December 2011, Emirates will start to land its A380 in KLIA. This shows more demands for airlines to use KLIA as a destination for their A380. Without proper strategic planning to meet this demand by Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB), KLIA will surely lose to its competitors. Even though Changi International Airport is currently the 2nd best airport in the world, there are many future possibilities for KLIA to overtake Changi International Airport current position. Singapore is a small nation compared to Malaysia. Meaning future expansion of Changi International Airport are limited. With more facilities to cater for a larger passenger capacity and airlines would surely be an advantage for KLIA.

The passenger comfort level at KLIA is at the proper level. With various facilities provided to assist on passenger’s movement in the airport and waiting areas, it is surely an advantage for KLIA. Passengers can also shop and dine while waiting for their flight. KLIA approach of a jungle within an airport is also very comforting for passengers embarking and disembarking in KLIA. Passengers came to KLIA would want less waiting time to reach popular destinations. Even 1 hour would be a waste to them. This is where KLIA is lacking. A location that is far from popular destinations. For example, Changi International Airport that have several popular destinations near to the airport location. This is one of their advantages.
The airport layout plan should be able to minimize ground time for aircrafts and passenger movement. This is because, longer ground time for aircrafts does not just meant more cost for airlines, but also will effect passengers comfort level. The longer the aircraft on the ground would make passengers and even the pilots stressed out. Since human factors are one of the important aspects in flight safety, it is important for KLIA management, which is MAHB to look into this problem.

In conclusion, MAHB still have many opportunities to improve KLIA performance. With constant development to meet the demand of the industry, KLIA will surely be the best airport in the world.

Truly Malaysian Carrier

Malaysia is a nation located in the Asia Pacific region. It is a nation with full of cultural diversity. Being a nation with Malay culture, Indian culture, Chinese culture, Punjabi culture, Kadazan culture, Iban culture and the others all put in together inside one nation, is it relevant to say that Malaysia Airlines are truly a Malaysian carrier? Malaysia Airlines represent the nation on a global stage and must show all the cultural diversity of the nation. Looking back at the past, Malaysia is a nation that is populated by Malays. But time over time after the Independence Day and Malaysia got its name, the identity of Malaysia is not only on the Malay cultures but also all the other culture which makes Malaysia it’s own identity. Malaysia Airlines are currently promoting the Malaysian culture with the uniform of their flight attendants, in-flight food, the airline’s logo and even their tag line, which is “MH: Malaysian Hospitality”.

Currently the uniform of the steward are a white t-shirt, green slacks, a tie, and a coat. Isn’t that resembles the western identity? Yes, it is practical but still there are many more Malaysian fashion that could be the uniform for Malaysia Airlines stewards. Looking into the Malaysian culture there are so many fashion to choose from which are also practical for all the stewards in Malaysia Airlines. A mixture of Malaysian clothing design must be put into the creation of a perfect uniform for Malaysia Airlines flight attendants to promote Malaysia’s culture at the world stage. For the stewardess of Malaysia Airlines, the “kebaya” with a “batik” design is only showing the Malay side of the total Malaysian culture. This is not using the full potential of being a nation with such cultural diversity. Even the checks in staffs are using the same uniforms. Even so Malaysia Airlines can’t mix cultural designs into one uniform, Malaysia Airlines can still have different uniforms for every staffs according to their job scope. For example, by having “kebaya” for stewardess, cheongsam for check in staff, and Punjabi suit for ticketing all with one texture to show uniformity.

Only the in-flight food can show some of the Malaysian culture. This is such as the “Nasi Lemak with Sambal Prawn”, which is a signature dish for first class cuisine in Malaysia Airlines. The “Nasi Lemak” was a result from the mixture of various cultures. Malay, Indian and also Chinese cooking styles were put into one dish. But even though this can represent on what truly Malaysia is on the global scale, it is still not enough for a national airline such as Malaysia Airlines.

Since the airline logo was created a long time ago and it’s serves as the airline’s identity, changing it would be out of the question. But still the logo, which is a shape of a “Wau Bulan” one of the Malay’s cultural kite, does not show the true identity of Malaysia. For an airline with a tagline “MH: Malaysian Hospitality”, Malaysia Airlines should change in accordance with time to really show what is Malaysia in the world stage.

In conclusion, travellers now are more attracted to cultures, foods and scenery. So Malaysia Airlines should give them a sneak peak of Malaysia within every flight. Marketing consist of 4 P’s, which are Price, Place, Product and Promotion. So where is the promotion part when there are limitless possibility on promoting as a Malaysian carrier. Malaysia Airlines can make more profit by evolving in accordance with time.

2nd Semester in Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology

Already 2011 and already in my 2nd semester in UniKL-MIAT. Last semester was great, a lot of new experience regarding the aviation industry. Looking forward for more aviation related experience. But for this semester is simply not a joy ride. Even though my class is 3 days a week, the assignments given for a week is like assignments given for a month when i was in Electrical Engineering.

At first i thought that taking Aviation Management is easy, but then its more difficult then taking engineering subjects. This is because the subjects in Aviation Management have a lot of reading and memorizing.

Internet is essential for this course. Every student needs to be updated about what's going on in the aviation industry in Malaysia and also the world.

For this semester, my range of subjects are from law of contract to principles of economic. A lot was learned about managing the financial, human resource and etc.

Even though all the subject was hard, I'm glad to do my degree 1st then going straight for a pilot license. This is because of the recent news which states a lot of graduated cadets stranded since lack of vacancies in local air transport companies. There are even cadets which are already 2 years with a license but still don't get any job.

2011 mark the year where i turn 24 years old. I have to be a better man for my religion, nation and family. Cheers. :)

Aviation Industry in Malaysia

Its been a while since my last post. Been so busy because of my final exam. For those who knows me, they would know that i really wanted to become a pilot. But now as i further learned about the aviation industry, and learned what a commercial pilot does every day on their job it actually makes my spirit to be a pilot a bit down.

A captain and a co-pilot are known as the technical crew, while flight attendants are called cabin crews. The job of the technical crew are to fly the aircraft and to monitor the aircraft during flight. To select routes, to make a flight plan, and other important decision is done by OCC or Operation Control Center. So now my view of being a pilot have totally changed. The only thing that is good about being a pilot is that you can travel, fly a jumbo jet, and wear a very smart uniform.

The aviation industry in Malaysia have a lot of opportunity. Not just in passenger airline but also air cargo, MRO, general aviation, and other parts of the aviation industry.

The profits that comes out from the aviation industry are all in big numbers. For instance MASKargo, they contributed a lot in bringing high annual GDP to the country. Many more opportunity awaits all aviation enthusiast in the aviation industry.

For my self, i still want to fly but maybe only as a PPL license holder not an ATPL license holder because now i don't think it is worth it. Now I'm more into managing pilots, flight crews, ground crews, baggage handlers and so on. I hope to own my own airline or a flight academy with the knowledge i have after graduating from this Aviation Management course.

A correct decision

It's only been 2 weeks in MIAT. But already there are so many assignment given. From what i learned, i am the 4th batch taking BAVM(Bachelor of Aviation Management) where the output of this programme can work in any management division in the aviation industry. This is such as engineering management, airline station management, air cargo management, airport management and so much more. Let say if i failed to get a job in the aviation industry, still i can work in the logistic industry, general management and so much more. In other words Alhamdulillah i made the right choice. Below are pictures of MIAT and some of my collegues

Me with Cessna

Sobri the future MAS CEO

Daus the future of Daus Low Cost Airline founder

A step closer

Today is the day i registered as a student in the Malaysian Institute of Technology for my Degree in Aviation Management. I'm so excited about it that i can't even sleep which brought me on to write this post. As an engineering student i should further my studies in a course like avionics rite?? But to think out of the box, with a diploma in electrical engineering i should further my studies in management so that i can widen my job prospects. I really want to be a pilot, so for this course i will do my best to score a 4.0 GPA every semester. This is so that i can go to emirates aviation college in Dubai for MBAA(Master's of Business Administration in Aviation). But i will pursue this only if i can't get an ATPL license after my degree program. Nothing will get in my way from achieving my dream. Even if it will result to me not getting married or study at an old age. I will not stop believing that there is a chance for me to be a commercial airline pilot.

Started an online business

After researching about it, i come to a conclusion that online business can really make some money. So i started with my own online shop. I also started an aviation forum, where aviation enthusiast can share knowledge on the industry. Hope all this can help more future aviators. My shop link and my forum link is as below:

• Aviator's Cloud 9 Shop
• Aviator's Cloud 9 Forum