AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International) has announced it will move its operations to Kuala Lumpur International's new Low Cost Carrier terminal, KLIA2, by May 9 despite reservations about the facility's readiness and safety among other issues.

After weeks of acrimonious press releases and arguments with the Malaysian government and the Malaysia Airport Holding Berhad (MAHB), the airline welcomed a move to enlist the expertise of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to further evaluate KLIA2 and to determine its long term safety.

With negotiations currently underway, the LCC stated that only "a few outstanding commercial issues" remained adding that they should not hold back the Group's planned move into the terminal.

"For everyone’s benefit, ongoing discussions with relevant authorities are in progress. However, should the negotiations not be completed or concluded expeditiously, we hope the Government will be able to provide necessary mediation, in order to enable MAHB to get its dues as the airport operator; and at the same time, enabling the AirAsia Group to efficiently operate based on our proven low-cost carrier business model through reasonable charges and levies," the group said in a statement.

The terminal is set to open on May 2 with five airlines – Tigerair Mandala (Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta), Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International), Tigerair (Singapore Changi), Lion Air (JT, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) and Malindo Air (Kuala Lumpur International).