AirAsia is set to cease its operations from Kuala Lumpur’s Subang Airport, a move that casts a shadow over the airport's revitalization plans. The low-cost carrier announced on March 6th that it would relocate its domestic flights to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, the only two routes it operates from Subang, to its primary hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) starting April 7th. The airline cites optimizing operations amidst growing demand and enhancing the overall guest experience as the driving factors behind this decision.

In August 2024, AirAsia had resumed operations at Subang Airport after a hiatus of over 20 years, launching twice-daily flights to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia. The airline was among several that initiated jet operations from Subang, an airport located closer to Kuala Lumpur than KLIA. At the time, the resumption of jet operations was celebrated as a significant milestone in the government's plans to rejuvenate the city airport.

AirAsia stated that it had carefully assessed passenger trends and operational needs, concluding that KLIA offers the optimal platform to enhance efficiency and service quality. The airline acknowledged Subang Airport's convenience, particularly for travelers heading to the city center, but emphasized that its redevelopment to support future growth would be a lengthy process. Fareh Mazputra, Managing Director of AirAsia Malaysia, highlighted KLIA’s infrastructure, stating that it "supports connectivity needs at scale—particularly during peak travel periods." He added that KLIA "also offers the capacity required for continued growth as we mount more flights to serve the rising demand across East Malaysia routes.”

With AirAsia's departure, Subang Airport's operator roster will be reduced to just two Malaysian airlines: Malaysia Airlines' subsidiary, Firefly, and Batik Air Malaysia. Two foreign operators, Scoot from Singapore and TransNusa from Indonesia, also maintain operations at the airport.

In other news, The Luxury Travel Collection (LTC) hosted a 'Leaders Who Lunch' series event on March 7, 2025, featuring Gary Murphy, co-owner of AmaWaterways, as a special guest.