KUANTAN: The Transport Ministry has not received any application for an aerodrome licence on the proposed Kuantan International Airport (KIA) in Gebeng here.
Its minister Anthony Loke said the ministry was prepared to facilitate the Pahang government if it obtains the approval from the National Physical Planning Council for the airport.
"I am confident the state government has already identified the site (for the airport) and this project is a private investment, and not under the Transport Ministry. We can facilitate if they receive the approval from the National Physical Planning Council.
"The company or project developer has to apply for an aerodrome licence from the ministry. This is the standard process which applies to all parties... when an application for the aerodrome is submitted, we will look into several aspects including air traffic, the location and this is also part of the National Airport Strategic Plan.
"So far, I understand that they (private operator) are still in the process of applying for an aerodrome licence... we have not received the application and if there is an application, the ministry will process it," he told reporters after attending the closing of the Kuantan Port International Conference here today.
However, Loke said other components of the Pahang aerospace city project where KIA was initially planned can commence if it receives the approval of the National Physical Planning Council.
"The airport requires the aerodrome licence but it is only part of the component while other parts of the project including aerospace industrial area can be carried out as it does not require the licence," he said.
In 2022, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail announced that the RM2 billion KIA which is part of the Pahang aerospace city project at a site measuring 5,042ha was expected to be fully operational in 2026.
Last year, Loke said his ministry will need detailed information from the Pahang government while they will facilitate the entire process related to the airport.