Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport

For the military use of this facility, seeRMAF Subang Air Base.

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Exterior view of the newly refurbished Subang skypark terminal from the pavement
IATA:SZB ICAO:WMSA WMO:48647
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	MASB/Government of Malaysia
Serves	Greater Kuala Lumpur
Location	Subang,Petaling District,Selangor,Malaysia
Opened	30 August 1965(1965-08-30)
Hubfor	Firefly
Focus cityfor	Berjaya Air
Time zone	MST(UTC+08:00)
ElevationAMSL	27 m / 89 ft
Coordinates	03°07′52″N101°32′53″E
Map
SZB/WMSA Location inSubang Jaya,Selangor,Peninsular Malaysia SZB/WMSA SZB/WMSA (Peninsular Malaysia) SZB/WMSA SZB/WMSA (Malaysia) SZB/WMSA SZB/WMSA (Southeast Asia) SZB/WMSA SZB/WMSA (Asia)
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 15/33 3,780 12,402 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Passengers 949,934 (58.0%) Cargo (tonnes) 58,260 (68.1%) Aircraft movements 49,454 (38.6%)
Source: official website AIPMalaysia

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport(IATA:SZB,ICAO:WMSA) also known asSubang SkyPark,— formerlySubang International Airport/Kuala Lumpur International Airport,often calledSubang Airport— is an airport located inSubang,Petaling District,Selangor,Malaysia.Serving as the main airport forKuala Lumpurfrom 1965 to 1998, it was eventually replaced by the newerKuala Lumpur International Airport(KLIA).

The airport serves as acentral hubforregionalandcharter carriers,includingFireflyandBerjaya Air.It continues to attract travelers from Kuala Lumpur due to its proximity to the city center and convenient location in theKlang Valley.

As of 2024,commercial jet operationshave returned to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, linking Subang to several regional destinations. It remains an important center forgeneral aviationanddomestic flights,with ongoing plans for further development. The airport is also aiming to become a leading center forMaintenance, Repair and Overhaul(MRO) services, as well as other aerospace activities in the region.

Background and Development

ARoyal Malaysian Air Force,de Havilland Heronaircraft on atest flightat the newly constructed Subang International Airport, 1965

Planning and Construction

The construction of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, initially named Subang International Airport, commenced in 1961 and was completed in 1965 at a cost of approximately RM52 million (then equivalent to $64 million).Built on 535 hectares of land, the airport was part of a larger government initiative to establish a moderninternational gatewayfor Malaysia. The decision was made in 1960, recognising the need for a new, larger airport to replace the agingSungai Besi Airport.

Designed by architectsKington Looand C.H.R. Bailey of theBooty Edwards Architectural practice,the airport featured an innovative and unique architectural design.The iconic floating concrete shell roof, supported by mushroom-shaped columns, became one of its defining features. Additionally, a circular ramp, inspired by thepenguin pavilion at London ZoobyBerthold Lubetkin,provided a distinctive visual focal point, contributing to the airport's architectural identity.

On August 30, 1965, the airport officially opened its doors, becoming Malaysia's primary international gateway. The inauguration ceremony was attended by more than 1,500 guests and was officiated by theYang di-Pertuan Agong,Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail.The first commercial flight to land at the airport, aMalaysian AirwaysSilver Kris (De Havilland Comet) fromSingapore,arrived at 8:15 a.m. on the following Wednesday.

The airport'srunway,measuring (3,780 m (12,401 ft 7 in) long, 45 m (147 ft 8 in) wide – runway 15 – 33), was the longest in Southeast Asia at the time, making it capable of handling large,long-haulaircraft. With this infrastructure, Subang International Airport replaced the Sungai Besi Airport (also known as Sempang Airport), which had served as the main airport for Kuala Lumpur before its closure.

ABritish Overseas Airways Corporation(BOAC)Vickers VC10,with the outdoor circular ramp for passenger boarding and disembarkation.

Growth and Expansion

AMalaysian Airline SystemAirbusA300at Subang Airport in 1982, with aChina AirlinesBoeing 727in the background

After its inauguration in 1965, Subang International Airport quickly became Malaysia's primary aviation hub, handling bothinternationalanddomestic flights.During the 1970s and 1980s, the airport underwent several expansions to meet the growing demand for air travel in the country.

One of the most significant renovations began in 1980, with the goal of modernising and expanding the airport. This expansion resulted in the removal of several original design features, including the distinctive circular ramp and sections of the floating roof. These changes were implemented to accommodate the growing number of passengers and meet increasing operational demands.

The renovation progressed slowly at first, causing frustration for Prime MinisterDatuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.To expedite the process, he instructed that Terminal 2 be extended to handle all airport operations, allowing Terminal 1 to undergo complete renovations.

The upgraded Terminal 1, unveiled on June 1, 1983, was celebrated for its "ultra-modern" features, which were considered groundbreaking at the time. These included abaggage trolley conveyor,nose-in aircraft parking apron, 12aerobridges,duty-free shops andwalkalators.The introduction of aerobridges marked a major improvement, eliminating the need for passengers to board aircraft via stairs, though it also ended the tradition of waving off passengers from the viewing gallery. This gallery was eventually closed off for security reasons, with passengers now being seen off behind double-glazed glass.

On December 1, 1989, Terminal 2 took over all domestic flights. It continued to handle domestic services until December 16, 1993, when Terminal 3 assumed responsibility.

By 1993, Subang Airport had three terminals:

• Terminal 1: Dedicated to international flights.
• Terminal 2: Used primarily for the Kuala Lumpur-Singaporeshuttle flightsoperated byMalaysia AirlinesandSingapore Airlines.
• Terminal 3: Focused on domestic flights, improving the efficiency of both domestic and international operations.

The airport’s growth continued through the 1990s, with Subang handling a record 15.8 million passengers by the end of 1997, the year before its operations were transferred toKuala Lumpur International Airport(KLIA). In recognition of the airport's significance, it was renamed Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in 1996, after the thenSultan of Selangor,Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj,who also served as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Despite these advancements, the airport faced operational challenges as it continued to handle a rising volume of air traffic. In particular, Subang was affected by two major fires in the 1990s that disrupted its operations. The first fire occurred in April 1992, resulting in the deaths of threesecurity guardsfrom theCivil Aviation Departmentand causing significant damage to 29duty-free shops.The loss was estimated between RM20 million and RM30 million. Investigations revealed that the fire was caused by faulty wiring carried out by unqualified contractors. Another fire broke out in the airport's control tower in October 1992, destroying critical radar systems, computers and other equipment worth over RM2 million. A former assistantair traffic controllerwas later convicted for causing the fire and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

As Subang's capacity continued to be stretched, the Malaysian government recognised the need for a new, larger airport to accommodate future growth. This led to the development ofKuala Lumpur International Airport(KLIA), which officially opened in 1998. KLIA took over Subang's role as the country’s primary international gateway and Subang's operations were scaled back toregionaland domestic flights.

Skypark Terminal Transformation Plan

With Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) taking over as Malaysia’s primary international gateway in 1998, Subang Airport’s role significantly diminished. In response to this shift, the government initiated a redevelopment strategy, leading to the demolition of Terminal 1 in 2003.

Despite interest fromAirAsiain establishing Subang as its operational base in 2004, the government maintained a policy limiting the airport’s use togeneral aviationandturbopropflights.This restriction ultimately set the stage for Subang Airport’s rebranding as Subang Skypark, redefining it as a hub focused on general andcorporate aviationrather than mainstream commercial travel. This transformation allowed the facility to pivot towards servingprivateand regional aviation needs, positioning it as a key center for corporate aviation services in Malaysia.

In December 2007, Subang SkyPark Sdn Bhd announced a RM300 million transformation plan to revamp Terminal 3, enhancing its appeal as a corporate aviation hub.The project included the construction of a five-star executive lounge, expanded hangar facilities and improved infrastructure to supportmaintenance,repair and overhaul (MRO) services. The renovation added two large MRO hangars and ten parkinghangars,making Subang an attractive base for private and corporate aviation.

The transformation included amenities for passengers and operators, such as additional office space, lecture rooms and a cafeteria within the new hangars.VistaJet,a global private jet service provider, chose Subang Skypark as its Malaysian base in August 2008, offering business jet services to destinations worldwide. In 2009, a RM40 million facelift was given to Subang Airport’s check-in terminals. While parking capacity remained a concern, valet services were introduced, with daily parking fees set at RM25. The airport saw further enhancements in accessibility when a rail link toKuala Lumpur Sentral,operated byKTM Komuter,was added in 2018. This provided travelers a convenient transit option from central Kuala Lumpur.

On October 28, 2009, Prime Minister Datuk SeriNajib Tun Razakofficiated the renovated Subang Skypark Terminal. He expressed confidence in Subang's potential to become a regional ASEAN hub, with a target of serving two million passengers annually.

Asia Aerospace City

Apronview of Subang SkyPark showing severalFireflyATR72aircraft parked at theterminal

In August 2012, Subang SkyPark Sdn Bhd announced the SkyPark Nexus project, a RM420 million initiative aimed at transforming Subang SkyPark into a dynamic aerospace city. Spanning 4 to 4.8 hectares near Terminal 3, the proposed development included aboutique hotel,anaviation museum,atheme parkand aretail mallwith a total built-up area of one million square feet. A unique feature of the plan was apedestrian bridgeconnecting the mall to the terminal, a concept rarely seen in urban airports. The project also included the construction of five state-of-the-art hangars for private and corporate jets, each accommodating up to five aircraft.

However, in 2015, the SkyPark Nexus project was put on hold due to various challenges, including changes in the development landscape and shifts in focus towards other initiatives. The project was later integrated into the broader Asia Aerospace City (AAC) development, a larger RM1.7 billion initiative led byMajlis Amanah Rakyat(Mara) and supported byKhazanah NasionalBhd. The AAC project, which aims to position Subang as a majoraerospacehub, is expected to encompass many of the elements originally proposed in the SkyPark Nexus project. Despite delays, the vision for transforming Subang SkyPark into a dynamic aerospace city continues through the AAC's revival, which focuses on enhancing aviation infrastructure and supporting aerospace-related industries.

In July 2021,Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd(MAHB) announced the redevelopment of Terminal 2 into advanced hangars for business aviation under the LTSAAS Regeneration plan. The redevelopment, driven by demand from operators like Berjaya Air and Smooth Route, aims to increase the capacity of the Subang Aerotech Park by 280%. The project is expected to drive significant growth in Malaysia's business aviation sector, support the country's Aerospace Blueprint 2030 and solidify Subang's role as a competitive business aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The transformation of Terminal 2 into hangars will be the first phase of this redevelopment.

Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP) and Resumption of Jet Services

The Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP), approved in 2023, aims to transform Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport into a major city airport and aviation hub by 2030. The plan is projected to generate agross outputof RM216.6 billion and a value-added contribution of RM93.7 billion over 25 years, accounting for approximately 1% ofSelangor's GDP.It is also expected to create 8,000 direct jobs, with 11% in high-skilled, 48% in mid-skilled and 41% in low-skilled positions.As part of SARP's development, the airport's capacity is set to increase, reaching 5 million passengers annually in four to five years and 8 million passengers by 2030. The first phase of the plan involves a RM1.3 billion redevelopment to upgrade the airport into a city airport capable of handling 5 million passengers per year.

In line with the airport's transformation, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport resumedjet operationsin July 2024 after a 22-year hiatus. Starting August 1, 2024, five airlines—AirAsia,Firefly,TransNusa,Batik Air MalaysiaandScoot—began operating flights from Subang to regional destinations. This move marked a shift from the airport's previous focus onturboprop,helicopterandprivate jetservices, driven by the increasing demand atKuala Lumpur International Airport(KLIA), which has reached full capacity.

To accommodate the resumption of jet services, the airport’s infrastructure was upgraded, including the reconfiguration of theapronto accommodatenarrow-body aircraftlike theBoeing 737andAirbus A320.The terminal’s floor area was also expanded and new check-in counters and self-service kiosks were introduced to improve passenger experience. Subang’s passenger capacity is expected to double to 3 million annually with these upgrades.

As part of SARP, efforts are underway to reinstate theSkypark Link commuter train service,which connects Subang Airport to KL Sentral, further improving regional accessibility. Long-term plans for the airport also include establishing an aerospace ecosystem, developing business aviation facilities, and creating a drone testing site. These initiatives align with SARP’s vision of making Subang a comprehensive aviation and aerospace hub by 2030.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
AirAsia	Kota Kinabalu,Kuching
Batik Air Malaysia	Kota Bharu,Penang
Berjaya Air	Charter:Hua Hin,Koh Samui,Langkawi,Pangkor,Redang,Tioman
Firefly	Alor Setar,Johor Bahru,Kota Bharu,Kota Kinabalu,Kuala Terengganu,Langkawi,Penang,Singapore–Seletar
Scoot	Singapore
TransNusa	Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta

Aviation Services

SkyPark Terminal provides a wide range of aviation services beyond passenger and cargo operations, includingcharter flights,flying clubsandhelicoptersupport. Notable flying clubs based at the terminal include Subang Flying Club, Air Adventure Flying Club and ESB Flying Club.

ExecuJet MRO Services,a subsidiary ofDassault Aviation SAand Smooth Route offer aircraft maintenance services. Dnest Aviation Services, afixed-base operator,provides high-endground handling,refueling andmaintenance coordination servicesfor private and corporate aviation.

Additionally,Eurocopteroperates a facility at the terminal for servicing helicopters used by theMalaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.The headquarters ofBerjaya Airis also located within the Berjaya Hangar at SkyPark Terminal.

Traffic and statistics

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics

Year	Passengers handled	Passenger % change	Cargo (metric tonnes)	Cargo % change	Aircraft movements	Aircraft % change
1994	11,343,648		262,053		137,871
1995	12,776,877	12.6	325,871	24.4	146,248	6.1
1996	14,556,879	13.9	372,339	14.3	163,493	11.8
1997	15,819,863	8.7	413,695	11.1	162,652	0.5
1998	8,263,930	47.8	166,794	59.7	88,882	45.3
1999	1,999,302	75.8	14,069	91.6	27,753	68.8
2000	2,100,727	5.1	15,893	13.0	38,129	37.4
2001	1,955,688	6.9	14,445	9.1	35,691	6.4
2002	1,130,169	42.2	12,261	15.1	28,170	21.1
2003	72,491	93.6	14,358	17.1	19,616	30.4
2004	90,593	25.0	18,670	30.0	22,757	16.0
2005	83,602	7.7	46,082	146.8	29,668	30.4
2006	83,502	0.12	71,953	56.1	36,626	23.4
2007	95,583	14.5	63,382	11.9	44,302	21.0
2008	307,747	222.0	18,473	70.8	46,989	6.1
2009	819,840	166.4	18,536	0.3	55,148	17.4
2010	1,118,309	36.4	19,988	7.8	63,616	15.3
2011	1,320,227	18.0	19,928	0.3	68,135	7.1
2012	1,442,514	9.3	22,680	13.8	74,008	8.6
2013	1,859,020	28.9	26,443	16.6	80,047	8.2
2014	2,762,556	48.6	28,128	6.4	91,529	14.3
2015	3,059,144	10.7	31,357	11.5	95,845	4.7
2016	2,834,836	7.3	36,147	15.3	94,544	1.4
2017	2,880,586	1.6	36,568	1.2	98,955	4.7
2018	1,964,059	31.8	32,284	11.7	80,775	18.4
2019	2,259,595	15.0	34,648	7.3	80,606	0.2
2020	949,934	58.0	58,260	68.1	49,454	38.6
Source:Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad

Ground transportation

TheSkypark Linkat Terminal Skypark, taken on December 13, 2018, which once linked Subang Airport to KL Sentral

Airport taxi

There is a taxi booth inside the terminal building, so arriving passengers can directly go to the booth and get on a taxi.

Bus

Transit bus

Buses from Subang Skypark towards Pasar Seni (Central Market) in Kuala Lumpur city center are Rapid KL bus No. 772 (also stops atAsia Jaya LRT stationandKL Sentral). The bus ticket costs RM2.50 (Asia Jaya) & RM3.00 (Pasar Seni) and the route operates from 6:00 am till midnight.

Feeder bus

To serve the newly openedKelana Jaya extension lineandMRT Kajang Line,there is a Rapid KL feeder bus No. T773 route betweenAra Damansara LRT Stationand Subang Skypark and MRT feeder bus No. T804 route betweenKwasa Sentral stationand Subang Airport. Fares are fixed at RM1.00.

Feeder bus no.	Station name	Line name
T773	Ara Damansara	Kelana Jaya Line
T804	Kwasa Sentral	Kajang Line

Airport shuttle bus

There is also a bus shuttle service between Subang Skypark and Kuala Lumpur International Airport KLIA & KLIA2. The service departs from Subang Skypark from 5am until 7pm. The one-way journey takes around one hour (subject to traffic) and costs RM10 per passenger.

Airport train

Main article:Skypark Link

AKTM Komutershuttle service connectingKL SentralthroughSubang Jayato the terminal was operated between 1 May 2018 to 15 February 2023. This extension is a branch line of thePort Klang Lineand provided rail connectivity to the airport that is currently only served by other kinds of road transportation. The line is 26 km long and has three stations: KL Sentral, Subang Jaya andTerminal Skyparkwith two planned stations - Glenmarie, Sri Subang.However, the Subang Skypark airport train system was suspended from 15 February 2023 due to the low ridership.

Accidents and incidents

• 11 May 1976 – British Airways Flight 888, aBoeing 747-100from London toMelbourneviaBahrain,BangkokandKuala Lumpur,was on approach to Runway 15 when it flew below the normal flight path, hitting trees 2.2 nautical miles before the runway threshold. On landing, inspection of the aircraft revealed damage on the main landing gear; strike marks on the fuselage and engine intakes; and evidence of debris ingestion on the two left-side engines.
• 27 September 1977 –Japan Airlines Flight 715,aDouglas DC-8,crashed into a hill in bad weather while attempting to land on Runway 15. 34 people, including 8 of the 10 crew members and 26 of the 69 passengers, were killed when the aircraft broke on impact.
• 18 December 1983 –Malaysian Airline System Flight 684,anAirbus A300from Singapore crashed 2 km short of the runway while approaching Runway 15 in bad weather. There were no fatalities, but the aircraft was written off. Ironically, the aircraft was operating its last scheduled flight forMalaysian Airline System,before being returned to its original operator,Scandinavian Airlines System.
• 19 February 1989 –Flying Tiger Line Flight 66,aBoeing 747-200Ffrom Singapore crashed 12 kilometres from the airport while on approach to Runway 33. The pilots misinterpreted the controller's instructions to descend, causing the aircraft to fly below minimum altitude and crash into a hillside on the outskirts ofPuchong.All four flight crew were killed.
• 18 March 2019 – At approximately 3.20am, an accident had happened on the runway of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport Subang involving a privately owned Bombardier Challenger 300 and an airport engineering vehicle. The vehicle was on the runway to escort contractors fixing the lighting of the runway when the airport staff driving it fell asleep while waiting for the contractors to finish their work. The contractors vacated the runway upon seeing the landing lights of the approaching aircraft while the airport staff in the vehicle had died from the incident a few days later. Two air traffic controllers were suspended due to the incident.
• 24 March 2021 - At 9.25am, an Airbus AS350 B3 helicopter crashed at the airport. There were five people on board, including one pilot and four passengers. All the victims were taken to the hospital for further treatment, two persons were reportedly injured and one suffered a broken leg and head injury. It left Sungai Lembing in Pahang at 8.30am and was on a private flight to Subang via Maran, Temerloh, Karak and the Batu Caves. A safety investigation will be conducted by Malaysia's Air Accident Investigation Bureau.
• 17 August 2023 - At 2.51pm, N28JV, aBeechcraft Premier Icrashedat a highway two minutes drive from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. There were 10 casualties involving eight people on the aircraft including YB Datuk Seri Johari Harun and two people on the highway. The aircraft departedLangkawi International Airportat 2.08pm heading to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.

Other shared facilities

• AIRODis located north of the passenger terminal and occupies the land there.
• RMAF Subang Air Baseis located on the western side of the runway, shared with theMMEAhangar.
• Various hangars storing corporate jets are located south of the Passenger Terminal.
• ThePolice Air Unitbase for Peninsular Malaysia is located at the extreme south of the airfield, the latest addition after shifting there fromSungai Besi Air Basein 2018.

External links

• Skypark Terminal Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah AirportatMalaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
• Current weather for WMSAatNOAA/NWS
• Accident history for SZBatAviation Safety Network