KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): Returning the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to the top 10 of Skytrax’s world airport rankings is one of the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Ministry of Transport (MOT) as well as Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
“I am not happy with KLIA’s ranking by Skytrax. Let’s put it back to the top 10 again. That is my and your (MAHB's) KPI,” Loke said during the grand opening of the Plaza Premium First and Plaza Premium Lounge at KLIA on Monday (March 20).
KLIA was ranked 67th in Skytrax’s World’s Top 100 Airports 2023, behind Singapore’s Changi, which topped the list, but ahead of Thailand’s Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, which was in the 68th place.
KLIA, Malaysia’s mainstay international airport, dropped five notches from the 62nd position in 2022.
Since the inception of the rankings in 1999, KLIA has emerged among the top 10 on four separate occasions — the second place in 2001, fifth in 2010, ninth in 2011, and eighth in 2012.
After that, the airport’s ranking steadily declined year after year.
According to Skytrax’s website, the customer-driven rankings take into account a multitude of factors, including shopping, check-ins, arrivals, transfers, security and immigration.
Touching on the opening of the Plaza Premium First and Plaza Premium Lounge, Loke said Plaza Premium Group’s lounge services have always been a great complement to the overall airport journey experience, and he is thrilled to see the new location that marks an enhanced service under one roof.
“I also understand that Plaza Premium Group is investing in a travel experience ecosystem that includes an omnichannel booking engine, customer engagement centre and service delivery platform.
“The use of digital technology will undoubtedly bring a new level of convenience and comfort to passengers, which is crucial in keeping up with the fast-paced world of travel,” Loke said, adding that he welcomes the group’s investment in digitalisation, as it aligns with the ministry’s goal to make the airport experience more seamless and enjoyable.