Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Entrepreneur Jehan Abu Bakar is upset that he will soon have to pay more airport fees every time he flies from his home in Malaysia to other countries in Southeast Asia.
Abu Bakar, founder of organic soap company Lesterly Natural, said the increase should be commensurate with the facilities provided, but the services at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), from Wi-Fi to immigration formalities, are He said there was a shortage.
“Baggage checks that take forever are also a problem. More immigration counters should be opened to reduce long waiting times. This is also part of the service,” Abu Bakar told Al Jazeera. Ta.
“Let’s not talk about the lack of trains. That’s a big problem,” he said, referring to the suspended Aerotrain, which connects the airport’s terminal 1, KLIA 1, with the satellite building.
The aging Aerotrain, which has been out of service since last year for renovations, is expected to be back in service by the end of this year or by March 2025 at the latest, Transport Minister Anthony Roque said.
“When will I see improvement? Hiking [fees] And will it remain the same? It’s very unfortunate,” Abu Bakar said.
Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet agrees.
“So far, I think many Malaysians would not care if the service at our airports was reliable and good. But it is clear that this is not the case,” Lim told Al Jazeera. .
“Obviously disappointing was the breakdown of the KLIA I (Aerotrain) train, which has not been repaired many months later.
“This is frankly an embarrassment for Malaysia, which calls itself a tourist hub.Malaysians wonder why there is a need to increase service fees when the services that have been provided so far have been substandard. I think it’s a fair question to ask,” Lim added.
Mr Lim said KLIA 1 could claim to have ranked as one of the best airports 10 years ago, but was now showing signs of aging.
“I don’t like to compare Singapore in every way, but as a Malaysian, my heart hurts when I see Singapore’s Changi Airport…It’s objectively much better compared to KLIA 1, both functionally and aesthetically. ” said Mr Lim.
From June 1, passengers departing from KLIA 1 will pay RM73 ($15.50), up from the current RM35 ($7.41), if they travel to any of the other nine countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). need to pay.
Travel outside ASEAN will remain at the current rate of 73 ringgit ($15.50).
Flights from KLIA2 operated by low-cost airline AirAsia to ASEAN countries will increase in price from 35 ringgit ($7.41) to 50 ringgit ($10.60).
However, if you travel from KLIA 2 to beyond ASEAN, the service fee will be cheaper, reducing from MYR 73 ($15.5) to MYR 50 ($10.6).
The Malaysian Aviation Board said the fare increase was necessary to “support the aviation industry’s recovery and adaptability to the post-COVID-19 pandemic environment”.
Not everyone is objecting to the price changes.
Italian economist Carmelo Ferlito, who frequently travels to Asia and Europe from his home in Kuala Lumpur, believes the price increases and facilities at KLIA 1 are still acceptable.
“The increase still seems to be quite acceptable,” Ferlito, who mostly travels to Milan and his wife’s hometown of Jakarta, told Al Jazeera.
“Despite the Aerotrain service not being restored, KLIA 1 is still a pretty good airport compared to other airports in the region. It’s certainly much more comfortable than Bangkok or Manila,” Ferlito said. Told.
“I think when you travel often, you get a better perspective. If you have been to Manila, Bangkok, Dhaka, Colombo, Lahore, etc., you will really start thinking that being in KLIA 1 is great ” he added.
KLIA 1 opened in 1998 and was designed by renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, the brain behind the world’s first floating airport, Kansai Airport, located in Osaka, Japan.
KLIA 2, an LCC terminal, began operations in 2014.
Despite rising prices, Malaysia’s airport charges remain lower than some regional peers, including Thailand.
The Airports Authority of Thailand (AoT) will raise passenger service fees by 30 baht ($0.82) to 730 baht ($20.20) per person from April 1 at six international airports to cover the cost of a new common operating system for airlines. It is planned to be
Jacqueline Fong, who commutes between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, Sarawak almost every week and travels abroad about six times a year, also doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with hiking.
“For me, even if the ticket price is still set dynamically, I should be able to buy a flight ticket within my travel budget, which also includes airport passenger fees,” says the domestic handicraft brand , Tanoti Crafts founder Fung told Al Jazeera.
“I feel these sins…but [they will] The overall cost of your trip will increase, but if you have flexibility in travel times and dates and can purchase cheaper flights, it won’t affect you much. ”
Ibrahim Sani, CEO of the Penelage Foundation and a frequent traveler both domestically and internationally, said the fee increase was welcome given the government’s need to widen the tax base.
“This increase will help fund the maintenance and growth of the airport,” Ibrahim told Al Jazeera.
Accountant Mikhail Hafiz said he was not happy about the increase and thought people, especially children and families traveling, would resist.
“But if it helps the airline industry recover after the pandemic, I’m willing to bite the bullet and accept it, so to speak,” Mikhail told Al Jazeera.
