Malaysia aims to be Asia-Pacific's most connected nation - Loke

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the strategy would also strengthen direct connectivity to Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, rather than focusing solely on Kuala Lumpur.

"Today, Malaysia Airports has set itself the goal of making this nation the most connected country in the Asia-Pacific.

"This is backed by capacity expansion at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and a deliberate push to open direct routes to Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, not only to our capital," he said in his speech at the Think Business, Think Hong Kong symposium here today.

Loke said connectivity was essential to the movement of capital and goods, and would help deepen Malaysia's economic ties with major regional centres.

Citing Hong Kong as an example, he said Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong were less than four hours apart by air and shared the same time zone, while Cathay Pacific had added a fourth daily service between the two cities since March.

"There are four direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong just by Cathay Pacific. That has not included other airlines... and that tells us the commercial demand is real and still growing," he said.

He said KLIA already had a strategic collaboration with Henan Airport in Zhengzhou to develop a dual air cargo hub under the Air Silk Road concept, while there was potential for closer cooperation with Hong Kong International Airport.

"This is where KLIA and Hong Kong International Airport have a similar strength, and where we can create a dual hub between Asean and Hong Kong," he said.

Loke said Malaysia's aim was to position KLIA as a major cargo hub for the Asean region, complementing Hong Kong's strength as an East Asian aviation hub with links to markets including the United States and Canada.

"Our aim is to make KLIA our main cargo hub in the Asean region, while Hong Kong already has strength in East Asia and connecting to the US and Canada. And this is where both airports can work together very closely in terms of our air cargo throughput," he added.