Transport Minister Anthony Loke who is known to make surprise visits, made a working visit this time around to the country’s main airport, KLIA to get a better understanding of the operations of the airport.
In his Facebook post, Anthony Loke said the biggest problem at the moment is the inconsistency of the aerotrain services that connect the main terminal building with the satellite building.
He said that currently there is only one set of aerotrains operating as the second unit is experiencing technical difficulties.
The MAHB management disconnected the service for the upgrading work but will be acquiring a new aerotrain set which will take the whole project roughly 24 months.
During this transition period, the Minister has recommended several mitigation measures which are to be implemented including a shuttle bus between the main Terminal and satellite that will operate throughout to reduce dependence on aerotrains. Travel time between 2 buildings is about 4 minutes. He has also requested to add more long buses by March for convenience and to reduce passenger congestion.
There will also be more wide-body aircraft such as the A350s international flights allowed to park at the Main Terminal subject to bay emptiness. To allow all domestic flights to operate from the Main Terminal, this can reduce aerotrain use as passengers can continue to walk to immigration counters and baggage pick-ups located in the same building. Only transit passengers need to take an aerotrain or bus to a satellite terminal.
All MAHB staff and employees in retail shops in the satellite terminal can only use the bus shuttle and are not allowed to use aerotrain except Cabin Crew and Pilot. More staff will be deployed at checkpoints to manage the movement of passengers and help passengers who need assistance
The Minister adds that he is confident the MAHB management will continue to improve the quality of service in KLIA and other airports. He advised parties to take responsibility for the operational problems in KLIA especially aerotrain and that they must dare to face and manage the problem!
