By RAHIMI YUNUS / Pic By TMR

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is prepared to support the coordination of the air traffic movements during the temporary closure of Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) third runway, Runway 3, next month.

The one-month closure is due to maintenance works such as overlaying and the reinstatement of infrastructures which include drainage and earth- works, beginning May 11 at 12.01am till 3pm on June 7.

“We are making the necessary arrangements as we speak. We are working along- side the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, the Airline Operators Committee and the ground handlers, as well as other parties to ensure smooth operations despite the closure,” said an MAHB’s official during a tour session of KLIA’s air traffic controller towers (ATCs) yesterday.

MAHB said the temporary closure is in accordance with its Runway Sustainability Masterplan, which ensures the sustainability and the safety of all airport runways under its management.

KLIA, KLIA 1 and KLIA 2 combined have three runways that currently receive about 1,100 aircraft movements per day, or 84 per hour during peak time.

The closure of Runway 3 is foreseen to disrupt about 6% of the terminals’ daily flight movements.

All operating airlines will give out early notifications regarding flight schedules and any changes to avoid further inconveniences brought onto the passengers.

At present, KLIA has two ATCs that manage aircraft movements, namely Tower East on Runway 1 and 2, which cater to both KLIA and KLIA2 terminals, and Tower West on Runway 3, which covers KLIA2.

An additional apron tower is dedicated to managing movements on the southern satellite, as well as for cargo.

KLIA will be hosting a new Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (KL ATCC), which is an ongoing project near Tower East, slated for operations in 2019.

The KL ATCC will restructure the Kuala Lumpur airspace, better known as the Kuala Lumpur Flight Information Region.

The RM650 million project will increase the air traffic movements to 108 aircraft per hour and is set to be the new home for KL ATCC in Subang.

Last year alone, KLIA registered the movements of about 58.6 million passengers at the combined terminals.