Kulim Airport

Kulim Airport is a proposed airport construction project for the Malaysian city of Kulim, located in Kedah State and bordering Penang State. The Kedah State Government submitted a proposal to develop Kulim International Airport to the country's Prime Minister for consideration. The state government intends to build the new airport due to growing capacity restraints at Kulim's nearest international airport, Penang. Kedah State has two current airports, Alor Setar and Langkawi International Airport. The airport is due to be located on a 1700ha site and is expected to handle 15 million passengers p/a once completed.

Jun-2024. Kedah's Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor reportedly held a meeting with a delegation from Henan Airport Group to discuss collaboration for the development of Kulim Airport.

Dec-2023. Malaysia's Kedah Head Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said prerequisites for development of new Kulim Airport have almost been met and Kedah State is hoping to receive federal approval.

Jul-2023. Malaysia's Minister of Economic Affairs Rafizi Ramli said Kedah's government needs to prove the financial sustainability of the Kulim Airport project proposal. Mr Rafizi said: "My focus is to ensure projects can achieve financial sustainability to function properly on a private sector basis without the need for support from the government, whether state or federal, in the future".

Mar-2023.

13-Mar-2023. Kedah's Sultan Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah urged the federal government to support and consider approving the proposed Kulim Airport project. He said the airport would be an "economic game changer" to spur economic growth in the region. 

09-Mar-2023. Kedah's Chief Minister Mukhriz Mahathir stated the proposed Kulim Airport will not compete with Penang International Airport as it will primarily cater to Northern Corridor's cargo industry rather than passenger services. This follows Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook stating the project is not viable, noting the Kedah region has existing airports in Alor Setar and Langkawi.

Jul-2021. Malaysia's Kedah Government signed an agreement with ECK Group of Companies to construct Kulim Airport by 2026. The project's first phase will cost around MYR6 billion (USD1.4 billion) and will include land acquisition. A special purpose entity will also be created with developer ECK Group holding an 80% stake and the rest to be held by KXP AirportCity, a company owned by the state.

Jul-2019. Malaysia's Minister of Economic Affairs Mohamed Azmin Ali said the country's Northern Corridor Implementation Authority is considering proposals to develop Kulim Airport as a cargo airport.

Mar-2019. Malaysia's Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali stated the federal government approved MYR1.6 billion (USD392 million) to construct Kulim Airport in Kedah.

Feb-2019. Malaysia's Kedah State Chief Minister Mukhriz Mahathir said the state has received Federal Government approval to establish a company called KXP AirportCity Holdings to coordinate and manage the development of Kulim Airport (LTAK).

Aug-2018. Kedah's Government plans to request Malaysia's Government to review plans for the proposed Kulim International Airport project first proposed under the previous state government. 

Apr-2016. Kedah state government completed the final report for Kulim International Airport, due for submission to the federal government in 3Q2016. Two investors, KPMG and Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA), have submitted their proposals to be included in the report. The MYR1.6 billion (USD405 million) project aims to ease both passenger and cargo traffic at Penang International Airport, which is fast approaching maximum capacity.

Apr-2015. Bina Darulaman Berhad MD Idzham Yusoff stated the group is "interested" in the proposed Kulim International Airport project, noting: "Anything in Kedah is within our purview". Mr Yusoff advised the project is "still at a preliminary stage" and will be subject to Federal approval.

Mar-2015. Kedah State Chief Minister Mukhriz Mahathir said Kulim Airport will initially operate as a cargo facility to meet local demand for freight services.

Jan-2015. The Kedah State Government is "not totally dependent" on Federal funding to develop the MYR1.6 billion (USD443 million) Kulim International Airport, according to State Chief Minister Mukhriz Mahathir. Mr Mahathir confirmed the state government is currently evaluating "other approaches to finance the project".

Dec-2014. Kedah State Government plans to construct an "aerocity" at the proposed Kulim Airport, according to State Chief Minister Mukhriz Mahathir. Mr Mahathir advised the industrial and business area, located on the 600ha airport precinct, will "accommodate all industries related to air transportation".

Aug-2014. The Ministry of Transport announced it will conduct an independent feasibility study on Kedah State Government's proposed international airport project in Kulim. Malaysia's State Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir stated the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency (NCIA), on behalf of the Kedah state government, will also undertake a similar assessment on the proposed MYR1.6 billion (USD500 million) airport after receiving approval from the country's Economic Planning Unit. The state government has not received any feedback from the Federal Government regarding the project to date.

Jun-2014. Newly appointed Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai stated the country's Ministry of Transport (MoT) will consider the Kulim State Government's proposed new Kulim Airport project. 

Malaysia's State Chief Minister revealed construction of the proposed airport is estimated to cost MYR1.6 billion (USD500 million). The estimated amount covers land acquisition, infrastructural developments and the construction of two runways.