KLIA needs to be improved for a successful Visit Malaysia Year 2026

How long more do international travellers at KLIA have to take the shuttle bus? — Photos: LEESAN

There are more than 41,700 civilian airports across the globe, majority of them in countries with vast expanse of land, for example, the United States. Our very own Kuala Lumpur International Airport is also a civilian airport, but one that has become a bone of contention for many people.

Completed in 1998, KLIA is now in its 25th year of operation. It was designed by Kisho Kurokawa, the legendary Japanese architect who also designed the world’s first floating airport, the Kansai Airport in Japan. Kurokawa collaborated with Malaysian architects to design and build the KLIA, with construction undertaken by Japan’s Taisei Corporation. According to reports, the airport was designed with the concept of maximising natural lighting, having abundant greenery, and using energy-saving solutions, giving utmost user comfort and practicality.