Urgent need to address growing congestion at KLIA

New Straits Times

21-05-2025

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) should prioritise establishing a firm timeline for the construction of a third passenger terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
This is urgent as Terminal 1 is operating beyond its capacity and experiencing significant congestion.
While recent reports suggest that MAHB will only consider building Terminal 3 after Terminal 2 reaches its full capacity, it is important to note that Terminal 2, previously known as klia2, was designed as a low-cost carrier terminal with a 45-million passenger capacity.
In 2024, KLIA handled 57.1 million passengers, with Terminal 1 handling 30.7 million, exceeding its 25 million capacity.
Given this overflow and the projected increase in travel, the congestion at Terminal 1 is likely to worsen.
It raises questions about MAHB's projections for Terminal 2's capacity and passenger growth rates, and whether new full-service airlines will be directed to Terminal 2 due to Terminal 1's limitations.
Comparatively, other major airports in the region, such as Singapore's Changi Airport with its Terminal 5 and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport planning a second terminal, are actively expanding.
KLIA risks falling behind if it does not address its capacity issues promptly.
While KLIA benefits from three independent runways and a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control Centre, and the KLIA 2020 Master Plan includes expansion plans for both Terminals 1 and 2, along with a potential fourth runway, a clear timeline for these developments is crucial.
It's also worth reconsidering the necessity of a fourth runway in the long term.