The PATA Aviation Committee gave its inaugural award for "Exceptional Service to Aviation" to Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, the Managing Director of Malaysia Airports.

The award, presented April 20 at the PATA Board meeting in Kuala Lumpur, recognizes that Malaysia Airports runs its airports as a profitable, self-sustaining business. The privately run airport company was the first in the world to be listed on the stock market. Since privatisation in 1992 and becoming a publicly listed company in 1999, Malaysia Airports has increased its profits, yet its charges are the lowest in its competitive set.

Accepting the award from PATA CEO Martin Craigs and PATA Aviation Committee Chairman, Peter Hoslin, Head of Marketing for Abu Dhabi Airports, Bashir told the Committee members that airports must be profitable, need to continuously provide extra capacity for expansion, need to work closely with airlines, and must always reinvest in development.

The Committee noted Malaysia Airports’ contribution in facilitating the phenomenal growth of low cost travel from its base in KL International Airport. Malaysia Airports is currently constructing a new dedicated terminal-klia2, for Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) in Kuala Lumpur to further cater to the rapid expansion of LCCs. klia2 will be the world’s largest purpose-built terminal for low cost carriers (LCCs) with the capacity to serve up to 45 million passengers annually. It is also one of the largest privately funded projects and will spur the local economic growth and employment opportunities.

"Malaysia Airports is a remarkable success story," said Hoslin. "They are profitable. They keep their costs to airlines down. They pay good dividends to investors. And their triple-A finance rating means they can expand services and facilities for airlines. The PATA award recognizes this exceptional achievement."

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