Spacious parking space would enable people to park their vehicle easily at KKIA. — Bernama photo
KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is gearing up to receive the expected holiday crowd during Christmas and New Year.
In an interview with Bernama, its Manager, Sunif Naiman, said the number of passengers was expected to increase by five per cent these coming festive and New Year seasons.
He said since the KKIA consolidated the operations of budget carrier, AirAsia and full-fledged carriers such as China Southern Airlines and Malaysia Airlines at the main terminal on Dec 1, the flight movements and the daily average number of passengers in KKIA had also increased from 8,000 passengers to about 18,000 passengers per day.
“For December, the terminal expected an increase of about 54,000 passengers between Christmas and New Year period. All preparations have been put in place to make sure airport operations are smooth and passenger convenience remains top priority.
“Malaysia Airports will work closely with all airlines, particularly AirAsia, to ensure passenger convenience especially within this peak period.
“We have further enhanced our communications with all stakeholders, including government agencies and service operators, to ensure that all check-in, immigration and Customs counters are at optimal utilisation,” Sunif said.
He said KKIA was fully equipped for passenger comfort.
It has 64 check-in counters for all 16 airline companies, ample parking space (3,521 bays), 12 passenger boarding bridges (PBBs), ample seats at the boarding area, medical centre within the terminal, automated teller machines and currency exchange outlets, taxi and car rental services, telecommunication service outlets and various retail outlets within the terminal, he said.
“We are working hard to make sure that operations go smoothly within the period.
“These include the cleanliness of the terminal. We will make sure our cleaning contractors will increase the frequencies to clean the toilets as well as the main terminal area. Other than that, we shall work with police to control traffic flow at the arrival and departure area,” Sunif said.
On future growth, Sunif said, KKIA was always looking for room to grow.
“Based on the current growth projection of five per cent year-on-year, it will take us about five to six years to reach nine million capacity. An ongoing feasibility study is in place to ensure that the terminal is operating at its best,” he said. — Bernama