SEPANG, Jan 24 — The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Aerotrain is set to resume in the second quarter of this year with no impact on Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said several technicalities must be addressed first to ensure the system operates seamlessly across all components and meets safety requirements.
“We should complete all the tests by April… if all tests are successful, we can get the certificate to operate immediately.
“The Q2 timeline is important for us to follow and adhere to, so let’s hope all tests are successful so we can operate soon,” he told reporters at a briefing here today.
The aerotrain, the backbone of KLIA’s internal transport since it began operations in 1998, was suspended in March 2023 after it broke down.
Izani said the new aerotrain offers top-tier services that meet the highest safety and performance standards.
“We guarantee that because that’s what we’re paying for, and we aim to offer the best services to all users,” he said.
Last year, MAHB announced plans to replace the ageing aerotrain system with a new one. The new aerotrain system is expected to enhance passenger experience at KLIA, minimise operational disruptions and support anticipated growth in air passenger traffic in the coming years.
On Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship, Izani said MAHB has made all necessary preparations, including upgrades, to facilitate the movement of delegates.
“We have also arranged for delegates to use the Bunga Raya Complex. I would say there would be no impact on the Asean 2025 meetings,” he said.
Meanwhile, MAHB chief operating officer Gordon Stewart said the KLIA aerotrain project is about 85 per cent completed as of Monday.
“We’ve fully completed the design, we’ve fully completed our procurement, we’re about 90 per cent on installation, just a few components that we still need to install.
“We are 25 per cent through the testing process. In terms of testing, we’ve got different types of tests, so we’ve got system acceptance testing, where each system needs to be tested in its own right,” he said.
MAHB in a statement reaffirms its commitment to passenger safety with comprehensive and intensive testing of the new aerotrain at KLIA.
“This critical phase ensures the system meets the highest safety and performance standards ahead of its service commencement in Q2 2025, subject to the necessary approvals from the Land Public Transport Agency and Transport Ministry,” the statement said.
— Bernama
