AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International) will end all of its routes from recently redeveloped Kuala Lumpur Subang airport on April 7, 2025, and move them to Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA), ostensibly to "optimise operations".
"Since resuming operations from Subang in August last year, AirAsia has closely assessed passenger trends and operational needs, and KLIA T2 offers the best platform to enhance efficiency and service quality," reads a March 6 statement from the low-cost carrier. "While Subang Airport has been convenient, especially for city-bound travellers, its redevelopment to support future growth will take time."
AirAsia operates 2x daily each from Subang to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. It says passenger numbers to both cities are rising 16% year-on-year, and shifting the flights back to its hub at Kuala Lumpur International will allow it to "better accommodate rising traffic."
The Malaysian government, via its Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd subsidiary, is spending MYR2.7 billion ringgits (USD612 million) on redeveloping Subang, Kuala Lumpur's original civilian airport, with plans for its terminal to handle eight million passengers annually by 2030. After AirAsia's exit, the remaining passenger carriers using Subang are Batik Air Malaysia with flights to Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, and Penang; Berjaya Air with flights to Langkawi and Pulau Redang; and Firefly with flights to Kuching, Alor Setar, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bahru, Kuala Terengganu, Langkawi, Penang, Singapore Changi, and Singapore Seletar.
