Malaysia to Possibly Have KLIA3 by 2023 as KLIA and KLIA2 Reach Full Capacity

Looks like we’ll have a new airport terminal in town soon! According to The Star, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is looking to develop a new terminal in the next five years as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the adjacent KLIA2 are running at maximum capacity.

MAHB managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the new terminal, to be named KLIA3, is an issue taken into serious consideration by the airport operator as KLIA and KLIA2 received some 59 million passengers last year, against their total capacity of 75 million passengers, The Sun Daily reported.

Source: blog

“We need to discuss with the government about which part of KLIA we expand before putting our plans in action. It requires expansion obviously, as we are growing. Last year we did 8 to 8.5% growth in terms of total passenger count and KLIA experienced near double-digit growth,” he told reporters at the groundbreaking ceremony of Senior Aerospace UPECA’s new facility at Subang Aerotech Park on March 13.

KLIA recorded 58.5 million passengers in 2017, up 11.2% over 2016. On the other hand, KLIA Main Terminal handled 10.7% more passengers at 28.2 million compared with 2016, while KLIA2 handled 30.3 million passengers, a growth of 11.6% over 2016. Other airports, such as the Subang Airport, were struggling with over 200% utlisation.

Source: flickr

The new terminal will be built along the borders of runways three and four while a few more mid-field terminals could be built along KLIA and KLIA2 where there is ample land.

In addition to that, Badlisham added that the airport operator would focus on improving baggage handling facilities and the Aerotrain, as part off the enhancement programmes in the next two to three years to cater an additional three to five million passengers at the two airports.

Source: malaysia airport klia2

“There are many opportunities for airport development as countries worldwide are looking to upgrade their infrastructure, especially airports. MAHB has been a bit busy in terms of reviewing and discussing with potential partners and also regulators in other countries. So we shall see, God willing, we will present this to the board of directors and also our shareholders,” he said.

Hopefully the plan will be approved and we can travel comfortably once KLIA3 is realised! 

Also read: Filipino Man Shares How 13yo Malaysian Went Out of His Way to Help Him at the Airport