26 June 2023
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 should strive to become an aviation hub once again in the Southeast Asia region.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the country’s main airport must be on par with other regional airports, such as Singapore’s Changi Airport with better service and facilities.
He said the improvements being made currently by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) will be seen in the next three years and put the terminal back again in Skytrax’s World Airports Awards.
“Most airports in the region are being upgraded. KLIA Terminal 1 must also improve its image and performance.”
“The airport is undergoing several projects, including the upgrade of the aerotrain, improvement of the baggage handling system, hotel and retail facilities,” he said.
He was speaking to the media after launching the Capsule Transit by Capsule Hotel here today.
Today (27 June) is KLIA Terminal 1’s 25th anniversary.
Loke also said Malaysia has a great potential to become an air cargo hub in the region given the size of land that the country has as well as commercial projects that have been developed in the KLIA area.
“I don’t think it’s impossible to compete with Changi (Airport). Changi has its advantages but we should give in to the fact that we can’t compete with foreign countries.”
“There are many airports that acts as a benchmark in Asean region such as Bangkok and Hong Kong. The vision of KLIA is to become an air transport hub, not a ‘feeder’ to Changi or other airports,” he said.
In the recent Skytrax World Airport Awards 2023, Singapore’s Changi Airport was named the best airport in the world, followed by Qatar’s Hamad International Airport and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in the second and third place, respectively.
KLIA Terminal 1 fell five places in the Skytrax’s 2023 list of 100 Best Airports in the World, ranking 67th compared to 62nd place in the previous year.
The terminal held the second best airport in the world in 2001, before falling to the 14th place in 2013 and 44th place in 2018.
Source: Stwww.nst.com.my
Site Search
Did you find what you are looking for? Try out the enhanced Google Search: