The first part of this series discussed the changes to the aviation sector as a result of three major factors the restructuring of Malaysia Airlines, the emergence of Air Asia, and Firefly, and the future Asean Open Sky Policy.

The benefits of a competitive, liberalized aviation sector were examined and evaluated against the impact on other areas in the transportation industry such as the passenger rail industry.

Part II of this series discusses how the government can and should improve the transportation sector by building better and more complete transport networks, using multiple transport modes.

The government will have to realize that the market for private, passenger car travel (especially over long distances) is slowly being eroded. The rising cost of fuel will make it more and more inconvenient for drivers to travel long distances by themselves.

As a result, there will be significant increases in demand for mass transportation and public transportation, especially as the price of oil rises.

In the new transportation environment, few operators will be able to offer direct, point-to-point travel over long distances.

Most long distance, point-to-point travel will be replaced by "hub-and-spoke" systems, whether it is in air travel (Malaysia Airlines and Firefly) or municipal buses (RapidKL).

As the need for mass transport and public transport increases, and as networks become increasingly complicated, the government will have to make sure that transport operators are able to operate without bottlenecks and interference.

We have started to see some elements of integration between transport modes. For example, there is the KLIA Express Rail Link. A passenger arriving at KLIA (air) might take the ERL (rail) to KL Sentral, then board a rapidKL bus (road) or LRT (rail) to reach their final destination.

Another example of integration of transport modes can be found in the KL-Singapore express bus market.

Whenever I travel to Singapore, I choose one particular express bus company because this company picks up and drops off passengers at the LRT/MRT stations, allowing passengers to complete their journey easily using public transportation.

But these are only a few examples. In the next few years, the government will need to make sure that all transport networks are as complete as possible. The government will also have to ensure that the different networks are integrated as seamlessly as possible, by creating a strategy to encourage inter-modal transportation throughout the country. But this integration of transport modes should not be limited to the biggest cities in Malaysia.

Subang Airport

The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (Subang) Airport has seen better, livelier days. With Terminal 1 demolished, Terminal 2 operating as the headquarters for Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad, and only Berjaya Air operating out of Terminal 3, the airport was a relatively quiet facility.

Until Oct 29, that is.

After Oct 29, the number of people going to the Subang Airport has increased, and will continue to do so as Firefly increases its presence at this new hub and adds more and more flights to various destinations.

Malaysia Airlines is calling for the government to allow Firefly to operate on the KL-Singapore route, competing directly with Air Asia for the low-cost market.

And fresh from their victory in being allowed to fly the KL-Singapore route, Air Asia is again calling for Subang Airport to be turned into a Low Cost Carrier (LCC), instead of constructing the planned permanent Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) to replace the existing temporary LCCT at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The question of what to do with Subang Airport is a very important one. Currently the Subang Airport is used in an ad hoc, leftover way. Only one scheduled airline (Berjaya Air) is flying from Subang Airport.

The arrival of Firefly will increase this number to two airlines. Aside from the small passenger facility, there are other facilities including a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for airliners and helicopters, a military air base (RMAF Subang), aerospace centre, and flight training school.

Subang Airport has the advantage of being relatively close to Kuala Lumpur, as well as rapidly growing communities in Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, and Klang. It is only likely that as more flights become available at Subang Airport, more people will choose to fly from Subang rather than KLIA.

Planes, trains, and automobiles

Many of the passengers who use Subang Airport will likely drive there. However, there is a large market for people who would like to get to Subang Airport using public transportation.

The Skybus from KL Sentral station and various other airport coach services should probably consider running buses to Subang Airport in the next few months. In the meantime, RapidKL is probably looking forward to the increasing number of passengers on the U81 (Pasaramakota-Mahsing) bus route, which passes by the Subang Airport.

Subang Airport is also serviced by a short rail line coming off of the KTM line from KL Sentral to Port Klang. There is potential for another airport express line or at least a direct service from KL Sentral to Subang Airport.

I believe that having Firefly and other turboprop carriers (Berjaya and Maswings) flying to Subang Airport is a good idea. I would rather see these airlines than Air Asia.

The reason for this is simple. I live in Subang Jaya, and my home is located under the takeoff path from Subang Airport. So occasionally my routine is disturbed by jets taking off from the airport and flying over my house. But turboprop planes are much quieter than the jets. So I, like many living in Subang Jaya, would rather see Air Asia stay at KLIA, if only for this reason.

A new strategy

However, another strategy, posted on the Malaysia page of the Skyscrapercity.com online discussion forum was quite intriguing, and deserves mention here. The forumer named Subangite deserves full credit for coming up with this idea.

Subangite points out that the facilities in Subang Airport have been planned and used in a very ad hoc way. Subang Airport performs multiple functions, as a military airport, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for planes and helicopters, a flight training school, base for private planes, and a hub for two airlines.

He also reasons that Subang Airport has been largely neglected since everything was moved over to KLIA.

Thus, his proposal: to shift all MRO facilities from Subang to KLIA, and convert Subang Airport for military, security, and aerospace uses. The existing RMAF base would be maintained at Subang Airport, and the RMAF base and Royal Malaysian Police air wing at the Sungai Besi Airport would also be shifted to Subang Airport.

The advantage of having the military and security and aerospace facilities at one airport is obvious, with increased efficiency and more opportunities for specialized training. With Malaysia's new aerospace program already at Subang, it would make sense to consolidate these programs into a single facility.

As I read his proposal, I realised that here was a great opportunity to also build on the aerospace program as well as build interest in the aerospace industry, by placing a National Aerospace Museum permanently at Subang Airport.

With Subang Airport becoming an aerospace facility, Sungai Besi Airport would be overhauled, allowing Berjaya Air and Firefly to shift their operations there.

This would also present positive advantages all around. An overhauled Sungai Besi airport would be located closer to Kuala Lumpur, which would be better for business travelers and residents of Kuala Lumpur.

With direct access off of Jalan Istana and the KL-Seremban Highway it would be easy to have cars and buses get to the airport. Finally, the KLIA Express Rail Link passes right by the Sungai Besi Airport. Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd could construct a new station at Sungai Besi for the KLIA Transit service, allowing the company to serve more customers.

A future North-South (Puchong-Gombak) LRT line could also be routed to service Sungai Besi Airport, which would encourage public transportation access.

Moving the passenger airline facilities to Sungai Besi Airport would also present an opportunity to construct the long awaited Integrated Transport Terminal that was once proposed at the site of the Subang Airport. The Integrated Transport Terminal would bring together rail, bus, and LRT transport service.

As part of the ITT proposal the Kelana Jaya LRT line was to be extended westwards from Kelana Jaya to Subang Airport, rather than the current ad hoc plan of extending it to Subang Jaya.

In fact, one hopes that the recent proposal by the Menteri Besar of Selangor, Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, to extend the LRT line to Klang would stop the proposed Subang Jaya extension in its tracks. It is not that I support one over the other. Actually, I support neither proposal.

But I do see the advantage of extending the Kelana Jaya LRT to Subang Airport. And I do see the advantage of having the KTM Komuter service going up to the Subang Airport. I also see potential for extending KTM Komuter services beyond the airport, to serve the north of Shah Alam and Klang.

I see the potential of the ITT and an Aerospace Centre at Subang Airport. I see the advantages of having Sungai Besi Airport as a passenger facility.

Who else can see this?

The future lies in integration

The airline industry is not going to die anytime soon. The rail industry only has potential to grow. But more and more we are seeing that the age of the passenger car is slowly coming to an end.

This is why it is absolutely necessary for the Malaysian government to develop a National Transportation Strategy.

The purpose of the National Transportation Strategy will be to enhance and develop the airline and rail industry, correcting the imbalance caused by years of mismanagement and neglect in favour of the private automobile.

Integrating our airports with our public transportation system (especially our rail networks) will allow more and more people to travel, easier and faster than ever. It will encourage, not discourage travel, and all Malaysians will stand to benefit.

Improved air and rail transport will lead to greater economic opportunities and lead Malaysia to new economic heights.

The Europeans caught on to train travel a long time ago. Japan and Korea and Taiwan got the message just recently. Is it Malaysia's turn now?