by BERNAMA / pic by RAZAK GHAZALI

MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is targeting to double the current number of freighter flights at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in the next 10 years following the commencement of operations of the new e-fulfilment hub, Cainiao Aeropolis eWTP Hub in Malaysia.

Group CEO Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh (picture) said with the growth in cargo volume, the airport operator is looking at improved airline connectivity via KLIA with new routes and increased flight frequency, belly space utilisation and freighter capacity.

“Existing airline partners at KLIA will enjoy new business yield, while we create a synergistic partnership with local industry players, for example Pos Aviation Sdn Bhd, MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd and Ground Team Red, to integrate the existing facility within the Cainiao Aeropolis eWTP Hub, while the final mile delivery for the fulfilment of the goods will be operated by GDex, Pos Laju, J&T Express and others,” he said in a statement yesterday.

MAHB and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd yesterday welcomed the commencement of operations of Cainiao Aeropolis eWTP Hub, formerly known as the KLIA Aeropolis DFTZ Park, which is part of their joint efforts in strengthening the economic recovery of Malaysia and supporting the increase in trade flow in the broader region.

Mohd Shukrie said the commencement of operations is expected to help facilitate a 24-hour delivery within Malaysia for e-commerce operators, with the ultimate goal of enabling a 72-hour delivery to the rest of the world.

“We are confident that the new facility will be able to increase cargo volume by 700,000 metric tonnes, thus doubling KLIA’s current volume to 1.4 million per year by 2029.

The Cainiao Aeropolis eWTP Hub occupies a 24.28ha plot of land with 1.1 million sq ft of warehouse space.

The hub is a joint venture between MAHB and Alibaba, and a major project under the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) partnership entered between the government and Alibaba in 2017.