Hi, my name is Ray. I'm originally from Ashford, Kent but am currently working as an economist in ...
Hi, my name is Ray. I'm originally from Ashford, Kent but am currently working as an economist in Malaysia. I enjoy travelling, good food,non-league soocer and Formula 1 motor-racing and love writing about these passions. Hope you enjoy reading my ...
Member since:21.06.2000
Reviews:581
Members who trust:151
The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is located at Sepang, Selangor about 60 km away from Kuala Lumpur, and is now the major international air gateway into Malaysia.
From the outset, this large airport was designed with an extensive range of facilities in order to maximize its potential for development into a major regional hub. Attempts were made to ensure built-in flexibility in order to accommodate future changes, a strong reliance was placed on hi-tech automated systems to reduce operating costs, and in an effort to provide sufficient capacity for long-term growth the new airport
was designed as a four runway airport.
The huge and attractive terminal building was designed to allow a capacity of some 25 million passengers per annum (mppa) but it is reputedly capable of expansion to 35 and ultimately 45 mppa. It is air conditioned and is full of glass and most comfortable,although there could be more seats for passengers. Domestic flights and shuttle services to Singapore are served by a pier connected to the terminal building while all other international flights at KLIA are served by two four-arm satellites located in the main apron area. Access between the main terminal building and the satellites is by a tracked transit system - the aerotrain. This is excellent and I have rarely had to wait more than two or three minutes to catch the train.
The runways at KLIA are equipped with Category II landing aids which permit all - weather operations and a full system of twin parallel taxiways and rapid - exit taxiways helps to make sure that runway capacity is maximized. The airport has been designed to accommodate all the current types of civil aircraft with safeguards for the future introduction of larger new generation aircrafts.
Primary road access to the KLIA is from a short spur off the North-South Central Link Expressway (NSCLE) from Kuala Lumpur and an express rail link is currently being constructed from a new City Air Terminal at Brickfields in the centre of Kuala Lumpur to the main airport terminal building. Though the current journey time into KL is a frustrating two hours ,the new rail service aims to do the journey is just 45 minutes. Time will tell whether these promises are fulfilled.
I have used the airport on a dozen or more occasions and my overall impressions of KLIA are quite favourable. Road access is good, the terminal building is comfortable and very spacious and has a very extensive range of retail and catering facilities including outlets of A&W, McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, check-in times are short, and immigration clearance relatively speedy.
Prices of drinks and food are rather exhorbitant but KLIA is not unique in this respect. The aerotrain service to the satellites as I mentioned previously is first rate and I have never waited more than about three minutes for a train. Duty Free facilities are good and prices are internationally competitive. The airport is architecturally very impressive. It is surrounded by good landscaping which help create the effect of "The Airport in the Forest." Nearby is the 450 room Pan PacificHotel, which is very convenient for transit passengers staying overnight, and car parking facilities are at present adequate. Not far away from the KLIA is the ultra-modern Sepang Formula 1 motor racing circuit.
I do have a few gripes about KLIA. One concerns the signage in the terminal building which is rather small and not as good as in Singapore Changi Airport or most US and European airports; another concerns the hi-tech baggage handling system which does not always function optimally and sometimes you have to wait quite a long time to retrieve your baggage. The staff at the duty free shops are also not always as polite and attentive to customer needs as they should be; some are positively surly. The toilets too leave something to be desired as regards cleanliness.
Despite these weaknesses, KLIA is undeniably a very modern airport which offers very good services to passengers.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
great comment on the airport.... as malaysian, i use this airport so many time and i agree with the cleanliness of the toilet in the airport that is not so clean. this is because of most malaysian use water rather than toilet tissue and the humid climate makes the toilet more smelly although the cleaner did clean and spray the toilet with air freshener every single hour.... but now the malaysian goverment had take this issue very seriously and now being held a campaign to keep the public toilet clean and hope it works plus with the cooperation of the toilet user as well...
p/s: the KLIA Express train from KLIA to Kuala Lumpur City is now completed and now the trip to KL takes only 28 minute....
thanks --harris :-)
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
very helpful by (100%):
