(AFP) - Foreign airlines which start flying to Malaysia's main international airport will be excused landing and parking charges from next month as part of a major move to boost business, the transport minister said today.

The concession will also apply to extra passenger flights operated by foreign carriers which already fly to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Ling Liong Sik said.

Flights must be at least 25 percent full to qualify.

Ling said the move aimed to attract more foreign airlines to the ultra-modern KLIA to promote it as a regional hub.

"This is a major decision to encourage more airlines to come here and bring more people to Malaysia. The 25 per cent minimum loading is practical," he told reporters after chairing the KLIA Aviation Hub Committee meeting.

Ling, quoted by Bernama news agency, described the concessions as part of an aggressive marketing strategy to attract more foreign airlines and passengers.

"We do this because normally in the initial operation you won't make money from day one. So this is a time we feel we should give assistance to lighten their burdens. They don't have to pay all these charges," he said.

No time frame

Asked how long the incentive would be offered, he said: "We have not set (any time-frame); we will discuss with airlines as it goes on."

A total of 41 international airlines now operate to KLIA while national carrier Malaysia Airlines flies to 97 international destinations.

KLIA opened on June 29, 1998. Since then Japan's All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Qantas and Lufthansa have stopped services to the nine-billion-ringgit (US$2.36 billion) airport, dealing a blow to efforts to promote it as a hub.