AirAsia is pulling its only two routes from Malaysia's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, also known as Subang Airport, just over six months after resuming operations there following an absence of more than two decades.
Beginning April 7, the airline will relocate its domestic services to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching to Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KUL) Terminal 2 (T2), citing growing demand and the need for operational efficiency.
The move comes as passenger volumes on key routes between Kuala Lumpur and east Malaysia have surged, recording a 16% year-on-year increase. By consolidating operations at KUL, AirAsia says it will be better able accommodate rising traffic while leveraging the terminal’s infrastructure to support continued growth.
“While Subang Airport has provided valuable proximity and easier access for city dwellers, [KUL] T2’s infrastructure supports connectivity needs at scale—particularly during peak travel periods,” AirAsia Malaysia CEO Fareh Mazputra says.
“To ensure a smooth transition, we will continue operating from Subang Airport through the high-demand Hari Raya week. This allows the majority of guests traveling for the holidays to benefit from its convenience before the shift.”
AirAsia returned to Subang Airport in August 2024, 24 years after first launching operations there. The airport had served as Kuala Lumpur’s primary aviation hub from 1965 until 1998, when KUL opened.
However, four years later, Malaysia’s government ended jet operations at Subang, transforming it into a general aviation airport. Since then, it primarily hosted domestic and international carriers operating turboprop aircraft, along with business aviation services, until jet operations resumed last year.
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