SEPANG: Special Quick Response Teams (QRT) have been trained by the Immigration Department to man the check-in counters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) during peak hours, with the goal of clearing 780 visitors in one hour, according to its director general, Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud.
He said the move was meant to overcome the problem of overcrowding at the check-in counters for foreign visitors at the airport here.
The personnel involved would be divided into two teams, he added.
“They consist of personnel who work in the operational sector and other support services.
“These officers have been given exposure and training prior to being assigned to the immigration counters at KLIA and KLIA2,” he told reporters after visiting the check-in counters at KLIA yesterday.He said that congestion was identified as involving several factors, including inspection and the number of flight arrivals.
“The congestion is due to the strict screening of foreign visitors from high-risk countries and the arrival of flights every five to 10 minutes or the total arrival of between 26 and 27 flights for a period of four hours during peak hours.
“Following the implementation of this QRT, a total of 780 visitors are expected to be cleared to enter within one hour,” he said, adding that as of Jan 31, this year, a total of 495,210 foreigners had entered via KLIA.
Need for speed: Khairul Dzaimee (right) observing the flow at the check-in counters at KLIA. — Bernama
He said based on these numbers, they estimated that an average of 15,975 foreign visitors enter daily and 60% of them do so during peak hours between 2pm and 8pm.
“During these peak hours, flights arrive around five to 10 minutes apart and between 20 and 29 flights arrive in total,” he said.
Khairul Dzaimee also said that the implementation of the extension of autogate facilities to long-term pass holders, which was launched on Nov 15 last year, has shown positive development.
“This method simultaneously addresses the congestion at KLIA, where until Jan 29, a total of 15,708 Long Term Pass Holder visitors have used this autogate facility.”
Meanwhile, Khairul Dzaimee said QRT would also be assigned at the checkpoints in Johor Baru, namely the Sultan Iskandar and Sultan Abu Bakar Customs Immigration and Quarantine buildings.“A total of 40 personnel are currently undergoing training and will be divided into two groups of 20 personnel each for the two entry points.
“We expect the QRT for Johor Baru to be operational by Feb 6,” he said.
