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Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), popularly known as KLIA, is the airport serving Kuala Lumpur, and is the main gateway to Malaysia. It is located in Sepang district in Selangor, some 60 km from Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Author: Craig (public domain)
The Kuala Lumpur International Airport or KLIA (IATA airport code KUL) was built at a cost of US$3.5 billion. It was opened in 1998 replacing the old Subang International Airport, now known as Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.
In its current phase, KLIA is capable of handling 35 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year. As of 2007, it is the 13th busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic, and the 7th busiest international airport in Asia. It handled 27 million passengers that year. The airport is operated by Malaysia Airports, and is the home base for Malaysia Airlines, MASkargo, AirAsia and AirAsia X.
Sited on an area spanning 100 sq km, KLIA is one of the largest airport sites in the world. It is built on agricultural land and required no demolition of private property. The master plan of Kuala Lumpur International Airport involves constructing five runways, and two terminals accompanied by two satellite terminals for each terminal over three phases.
Roof architecture of KLIA (1 March 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Phase One development includes constructing one main terminal accompanied by one satellite terminal that is enough to accommodate 25 million passengers and dual full service runways. Under the implementation of Phase One, sixty contact piers, twenty remote parking bays with eighty aircraft parking positions, four maintenance hangars and fire stations will be built. Implementation of phase two and three will be expansions of the airport to include increasing number of passengers.
Ultimately, KLIA will be able to handle 100 million passengers per annum once all three phases are implemented.
About the Terminal Buildings
The KLIA Terminal buildings were built to allow natural light in. Thus, there is a huge expanse of glass throughout the building, and the spectacular roof has cut-outs for natural light to filter through. The Passenger Terminal Complex comprises the Main Terminal Building, the Satellite Building and the Contact Pier.Besides the 80-room hotel at the Satellite Building, there is a 450-room 5-star Pan Pacific KLIA hotel which is a 10 minutes' walk away. Currently, the retail space at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport stands at 63,644 square metres (685,060 sq ft), with plans to increase the retail space to 103,251 square metres (1,111,380 sq ft), or a 62.2% hike in retail space.
KLIA Check In Counters (22 February 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Main Terminal Building
The Main terminal building or Terminal 1 is located in between the two runways. It consists of 39 square roof units, which enables future expansion of the building. There are a total of 216 check-in counters on 6 different islands, identified by the letters A - M excluding I. Multi check-in services are available, designed for the use of all passengers arriving, departing or in transit.On 2 February, 2007, Malaysia Airports introduces 12 integrated self check-in kiosks (CUSS) for passengers, with another 24 to be added. The first airline to use that system is KLM.
The contact pier is the rectangular shaped terminal connected to the Main Terminal Building. It serves as the domestic terminal of KLIA. The north side of the pier can only accommodate narrow-bodied aircraft while the south side can accommodate B747 or other similar sized aircrafts.
KLIA Control Tower
Author: Mausmaus (GFDL)
Satellite Building
The 143,404 square metres (1,543,590 sq ft) satellite building accommodates international flights departing and arriving at KLIA. Passengers reach the satellite building from the main terminal building by taking the Aerotrain. Wireless internet (Wifi) is provided free of charge. The terminal also has prayer rooms, showers and massage service. Various lounge areas are provided, some including children's play areas and movie lounge, broadcasting movie and sport channels such as Star Movies.The terminal also features a natural rainforest in the middle of the terminal, exhibiting the Malaysian forests.
Low Cost Carrier Terminal
The Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) was built in June 2005 at a cost of RM 108 million. The LCCT is located on the opposite side of the apron from the Main Terminal Building, near the air cargo area.By road, the LCCT is about 20 km from the Main Terminal Building. The 35,290 square-meter terminal is built to suit the low cost carrier (LCC) business model and provides only basic terminal amenities. In order to offer lower landing fees, handling fees and airport taxes, it cuts back on amenities such as aerobridges, elaborate physical structures and decorations in the passenger terminal building.
Aerobridge, KLIA (1 March 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
There is no transfer facility at the LCCT. Passengers who need to make transfers need to clear immigration, collect their luggage, clear customs, make their way to the main terminal and re-checkin with the respective airline.
The present Low Cost Carrier Terminal is a temporary solution. Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad has plans to build a new permanent LCC terminal which can accommodate 30 million passengers per annum. In the mean time, the airport operator decided to expand the current terminal to cope up with the increasing demand. The new arrival hall was open on December 15, 2008.
View KLIA in a larger map
Nearby Sights
Two tourist attractions within the vicinity of the airport include the KLIA Mosque and the Sepang International Circuit.Return to Selangor Travel Guide
Return to Malaysia Travel Guide
  
   
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