Sabah urged to enforce aerobridge use
He also said that direct negotiations should be initiated with airlines and federal authorities.
'Passengers at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) continue to face unacceptable conditions,' he said in a statement on Monday (July 21).
He cited AirAsia's refusal to use aerobridges as a key issue, forcing travellers, including the elderly and families with young children, to walk across the open tarmac.
Chin said Sabah should emulate Sarawak's enforcement of aerobridge use through discussions with AirAsia, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) and federal-level stakeholders.
He noted that although Sabah experienced significant tourism growth—reaching three million arrivals and generating RM4.88 billion in revenue last year—the conditions at KKIA still fall short of being ideal.
Chin also highlighted that the cost of using an aerobridge is minimal, which is just RM85 per-use, which translates to about 25 sen per passenger, and should not be an excuse for compromising safety.
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