The Malaysian government has agreed in principle to rebrand the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) to KLIA Terminal 1 and KLIA Terminal 2 respectively.
Transport minister Anthony Loke said the rebranding proposal followed a Cabinet meeting last week, noting the exercise aimed at improving their marketability, value and effectiveness while strengthening competition with other regional international airports.
“This will allow us to market the airport’s services more effectively thus strengthening KL International Airport’s position as a regional hub,” MAHB managing director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said in a statement.
MAHB also announced that it had obtained approval in-principle from the government on the material terms of the Operating Agreements (OA 2023) to operate, manage, maintain and develop 39 airports and STOLports nationwide until 2069.
The new OA 2023 was a reflection of the government’s confidence in MAHB’s capabilities and deep experience in managing and operating airports locally and internationally, Iskandar said.
It also served as an affirmation of the airport network framework and cross-subsidisation model.
“It will ensure commercial sustainability and facilitate growth for the nation’s airports, which in turn will serve as an important economic development lever for Malaysia.
“We will be able to continue operating underserved essential community airports and STOLports, and at the same time enhance airport capacity where needed and provide better airport service levels as a whole,” he said.
MAHB said OA 2023 would give it the flexibility to invest and reinvest in the modernisation and development of viable airports under fair and conducive commercial terms with a clear investment return mechanism.
