AirAsia and SATS’s joint venture, Ground Team Red launched its air cargo hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Air Cargo Terminal 1 today (Thursday 12 December).

Based in Sepang’s former low-cost carrier terminal, the facility spans 93,000 square feet and was built at a cost of 23 million ringgit.

It adds additional storage to the existing 40,000 square foot warehouse, and the combined facilities will handle 300,000 tonnes annually.

The hub enables GTR to handle both narrow and wide-body aircraft cargo operations and has a motorised material handling system to efficiently handle unit load devices.

It has a purpose-built 10,000 square foot cold-chain facility for specialised handling of perishables and pharmaceuticals, and dedicated zones for dangerous goods, pets and valuable cargo.

The opening ceremony was attended by Malaysia’s minister of transport, YB Loke Siew Fook, along with Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group; Bo Lingam, president (airlines) AirAsia Group; Alex Hungate, president and CEO of SATS; Kevin Chin, CEO of GTR; Riad Asmat, CEO of AirAsia Malaysia; Pete Chareonwongsak, CEO of Teleport.

Congratulating GTR on their new facility, Fook says: “It is an impressive facility and will help to further elevate KLIA and klia2 as a key logistics gateway, in line with my Ministry’s National Logistics Masterplan to develop Malaysia as a logistics hub. I would also like to see GTR replicate this facility, in particular their cold-room capabilities to other airports in Malaysia to add further value to our ambition of developing Malaysia as a logistics hub.”

Chin adds: “We expect KLIA’s air cargo to grow steadily. With global e-commerce players investing in the region, the increased capacity and digitalisation will enhance air cargo handling services. We will continue our efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s position to become a world class logistics hub in the region by adding capabilities in other parts of Malaysia.”