The airline said while SZB has offered convenience, especially for city-bound travellers, its redevelopment to support future growth will take time.

It said the move is aimed at optimising operations amid growing demand and enhancing the overall guest experience.

“Since resuming operations from Subang in August last year, AirAsia has closely assessed passenger trends and operational needs, and KLIA Terminal 2 offers the best platform to enhance efficiency and service quality,” it said in a statement.

“With passenger numbers between Kuala Lumpur and major destinations like Kota Kinabalu and Kuching rising significantly – up 16% year-on-year – consolidating operations at KLIA Terminal 2 will enable the airline to manage growing traffic more effectively.”

AirAsia quoted its CEO, Fareh Mazputra, as saying that KLIA Terminal 2’s infrastructure supports connectivity needs at scale, particularly during peak travel periods.

“It also offers the capacity required for continued growth as we mount more flights to serve the rising demand across East Malaysia routes,” he said.

Fareh said the airline has put in place comprehensive service recovery options, including complimentary flight changes, credit accounts, or full refunds, to minimise any inconvenience.

“The positive consultation sessions with the Gateway Development Alliance consortium also ensure that our transition aligns with broader infrastructure developments and long-term connectivity goals,” he said.

AirAsia had announced the expansion of its domestic operations to SZB in July last year to complement its main hub at KLIA Terminal 2.

It began operating 14 weekly flights to and from Kuching and Kota Kinabalu on Aug 30, 2024.

In July last year, transport minister Loke Siew Fook announced that six airlines, including AirAsia, would resume narrow-body aircraft operations at SZB following several enhancements to the airport’s Skypark terminal.

He said the Skypark Link – a train service connecting KL Sentral with the airport’s Skypark Terminal – will resume operations once the new terminal is ready by 2027.