Senai Airport Terminal Services (SATS), the operator of Senai International Airport (SIA) in the Malaysian peninsula's southernmost state of Johor, has launched a Singapore-Malaysia road feeder service aimed at helping to transform the airport into a leading cargo and logistics hub in the region.
Called SATS Express, the service operates to and from Singapore's PSA port and Changi airport to Johor. Northbound, the service operates to and from Johor Bharu to Pasir Gudang, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Subang Airport and Port Klang. The trucks carry 20 and 40-ft containers and 20-ft reefers.
There are also northbound services to and from Malacca to KLIA, Subang Airport, Port Klang and Kuala Lumpur and southbound services to and from Malacca to Johor.
The northbound service to and from Johor Bahru covers 16 designated drop-off/pick-up points falling under zones one and two and including Gelang Patah, Larkin, Pandan, Skudai, Tampoi, Tebrau, Pontian, Kota Tinggi, Kulai, Masai, Pasir Gudang, Senai, Ulu Tiram, Taman Johor Jaya and Taman Desa Jaya. Similarly, the southbound Kuala Lumpur service covers designated points under zones 1 and 2 that include Batu Tiga, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Subang, Sungai Way, Ampang, Bangi, Banting, Batu Caves and Cheras.
SATS land logistics manager David Govind told Cargonews Asia the Singapore-Johor Bharu service onward to PTP and Pasir Gudang launched on April 18 had received "overwhelming response'' from both sides of the Johor Causeway.
"We are committed to providing the most efficient, reliable and economical choice [to companies] for cargo transportation [by land],'' he said, adding that the SATS road feeder service offers a combination of facilities and services for organisations to remain competitive in the ever evolving and demanding industry.
Govind described SATS Express' rates as "the most competitive'' in the market.
Among its existing clientele are leading logistics companies such as Maersk Logistics, Kuehne + Nagel, Schenker, ABX Logistics, TNT Express, Yamato Transport, SM Freight, Pro Logistics and Eastern Cargo.
On the refrigerated truck service, Govind said SATS Express is negotiating with Penang-based Dimerco Express and Alfro Cargo Express to bring reefers down to Johor Bharu, Pasir Gudang, Senai and PTP.
"We expect this service to commence at the end of the year,'' he said.
Govind said the northbound dry truck service to and from Johor Bahru was the busiest, and the service to and from Singapore was "picking up steadily''.
Meanwhile, Govind said construction work on the cargo complex at Senai airport is nearing completion and is expected to be ready for use by the end of the year. Twenty units of 2,200 sq ft each will be available and another 20 units will be ready possibly by early next year.
"We will open the units for booking only a few months before the targeted completion date,'' he added.
Behind the cargo complex there will be a two-tier building for general sales agents (GSAs) and airlines and each unit will offer office space of 400 sq ft.
Under Senai International Airport's phase one cargo facility development, a US$3.42 million 3,000 sq m cargo complex became operational in July last year with annual handling capacity of 80,000 tonnes of cargo and capacity to handle B747-F aircraft. The airport aims to handle 50,000 tonnes of cargo this year. In its efforts to boost throughput, SATS recently clinched rights to prvide cargo handling services to no-frills airline AirAsia.
Govind said the aim in launching the road feeder service was to improve Senai International Airport's connectivity to other airports and seaports as part of SATS' long-term plan to transform Senai airport into a cargo and logistics hub.
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