SEPANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is confident that the new Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Complex (KL ATCC) will enhance Malaysia's competitiveness in the aviation industry.
He said the RM650 million project, scheduled to be operational in 2019, also marked another achievement for the government's transformation programme.
"The project will boost Malaysia's competitiveness in the aviation industry.
"It will raise the availability and connectivity of our air transport industry," he said at the groundbreaking ceremony of the KL ATCC project here.
Also present were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi, Transport Ministry's secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim and Malaysia Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman.
Najib also said that with the completion of the KL ATCC project, Malaysia could handle 108 aircraft movements per hour using three runways at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and pointed out that not many countries could handle such high traffic volume.
The prime minister also urged air traffic controllers to never compromise on safety.
"This is your paramount concern. Your commitment and dedication are of the utmost importance."
It was reported that the new air traffic control management centre will be the new home for the KL ATCC in Subang which has been operating for 20 years.
Upon completion, the new KL ATCC will feature a new air traffic management system that is capable of handling an increasing number of aircraft traffic at KLIA and klia2.