Individual Report
A. Introduction
According to my understanding, Airport Access is how people travel to and from the airport, the users range from passengers, employees to airport visitors and also how they connect from the different parts of the city to the airport by using the different access modes. Airport Access is a key element of airport operations as the accessibility of an airport would directly affect its reputation and passenger experience even before they enter the airport.
Airport Access is an important component to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Destination Airport) of FLT SQ118 as it is the largest and busiest airport in Malaysia and the year 2018, it handled 59,588,409 passengers making it the main gateway to Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur and all the other cities. It also serves the busiest international air route with 30,187 flights in a year, the route is between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Changi Airport, Singapore and have the highest frequency of services.
Congestions such as traffic jams are common especially in the densely populated city like Kuala Lumpur with the airport is situated about 55km from the city Centre and a taxi on this route is likely to take around 50 minutes to reach the city Centre, in normal traffic. Passengers might miss their flight if they do not factor in buffer time for poor traffic conditions affecting the airport’s reputation and causing strong implications.
In the year 2020, Kuala Lumpur International airport is being certified as a 3-star airport by Skytrax. And Airport Access is one of the key contributing factors, by improving ground transportation such as public transport option ranging from buses to trains, the distance to public transport, airport taxi service and car rental services it can provide better Airport Access to the passengers, employees and airport visitors thus improving passenger experience, accessibility and the airport’s reputation as a whole.
On a broader scale, by having great Airport Access would provide passengers with a smooth journey to and from the airport with the least congestion and difficulty faced. Indirectly also having an impact on the country’s travel industry as passengers and visitors would view that Malaysia’s capital is easily accessible and convenient. Airport Access plays an important role in Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s operations.
B. Airport Access Modes
Moving on to the access modes, for Kuala Lumpur International Airport there are 2 main types of access modes the road access and rail access.
i) Road Access:
For road access, it plays a primary role in airport access as most passengers use a road vehicle to and from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). There are 3 sub-modes in road access there are automobiles, taxies, and buses/coaches.
1) Private Automobiles
KLIA can be accessed by private automobiles which are personal/private cars as there are parking facilities available. There are multiple expressways connecting to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. One example is the KLIA Expressway, E6 and Federal Route 26, is an expressway in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. It serves as the main access road to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), as well as the nearby Sepang International Circuit and Bandar Enstek. The total length of the expressway is 11.4 km (7.1 mi).
2) Rented Automobiles
There are 7 car rental companies in KILA and 9 car rental companies in KLIA2.
Evaluation of Automobiles
Based on the 3 key considerations for airport access, for the length of access time varies as people can travel to and from various parts of the city however it is subjected to various traffic and weather conditions as the traffic at Kuala Lumpur is quite congested. It will take around 50 minutes or longer to drive the city centre.
For the reliability of access modes, automobiles are easily available as it is one’s personal vehicle or for rental automobiles, they are multiple car rental companies providing rental automobiles at both KLIA and KLIA2. They are also dependable as personal cars and rental cars are well taken care of it also provides flexibility and convenience.
Lastly, for check-in requirements passengers can check-in for their flight online at the comfort of their home before driving to the airport this allows them to leave at a later timing providing greater convenience for the passengers.
However, if they do not check-in online, they have to leave earlier to factor in buffer time for traffic conditions as most flights require passengers to check-in 1-2 before the scheduled departure time.
In conclusion, automobiles are a relatively reliable access mode as it is readily available, and one does not need to worry of the frequency of the transport like buses or trains however poor traffic conditions at Kuala Lumpur would increase travel times.
3) Taxis
KLIA:
In KLIA there are 2 types of taxi service, airport taxi and metered city taxi.
Airport Taxi
For Airport taxi they operate through a coupon system that can be purchased at the respective counters.
The airport taxi service provider has a variety of vehicle types in their fleet ranging from family sedans to luxury vehicles.
The charges start from a minimum of MYR37 and are fixed based on the desired destinations.
KLIA2:
For KLIA2 there are also 2 types of taxi service, couponed service, and metered service.
Couponed Service
There are city taxis in klia2 that operates through a coupon system that can be purchased at the respective counters located at Transport Hub, Level 1, gateway@klia2.
There are 3 types of taxi service available, budget, premiere, and family.
The charges start from a minimum of MYR32 and are fixed based on the desired destinations.
Private hire cars
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Grab
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MyCar
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EZCab
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MULA
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DACSEE
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Riding pink (Women Only)
Metered Service
Metered service is available at klia2 and charges are according to distance/time inclusive of a flag fall charge for the first 1km or 3 minutes of between MYR3.00 to MYR6.00 depending on the taxi type.
Subsequent charges are based on the distance or time travelled.
Evaluation of Taxis and Private Hire
Evaluation of Taxis:
Based on the 3 key considerations for airport access, for taxis, the length of access time is similar to automobiles and are affected by traffic conditions so the travelling time would be about the same.
For the reliability of the access modes, taxis are readily available at both KLIA and KLIA2 there is also an alternate option which is the various private-hire cars, however, taxis in Malaysia are not as dependable as Kuala Lumpur taxis are notorious for refusing to turn on their taxi meters and are quite likely to ask for a flat fee to bring you to your destination thus compromising also on the customer experience.
Lastly, for the check-in requirements, it is similar to the automobiles where passengers can check-in online beforehand however passengers need to factor in time to flag/book a taxi or a private hire car.
In conclusion, taxis are fairly convenient however they are subjected to road conditions like automobiles and not as dependable as taxi scams and notorious taxi driver affecting customer experience.
4) Buses/Coaches
KLIA:
KLIA has a variety of bus service that allows passengers to travel to several destinations in within Peninsula Malaysia. They can take the bus service by going to Level 1, Block C, Short-Term Car Park and Level 1, Main Terminal Building.
Public Buses
Public buses are normal buses that do not offer any luggage storage space. These buses are often used by airport workers as it is the most affordable form of transport to the airport.
Dedicated Airport Coaches
Dedicated Airport Coaches are more towards serving travellers and also tourists as they provide adequate luggage storage. They operate on a fixed schedule and often serve the city centre.
Intercity Coach lines
Intercity Coach Lines are coaches for passengers final destination is not being served by air service such as smaller cities and towns of Malaysia such as Muar/Batu Pahat.
Shuttle Service
Shuttle Service is usually provided by Hotels, airlines and even the airport. Shuttle Service usually uses small to medium-sized buses to transport passengers from one terminal to another or from the Airport to Hotels.
KLIA2:
Public Buses
Dedicated Airport Coaches
Intercity airport coaches
Shuttle Service
Evaluation of Buses/Coaches:
Based on the 3 consideration for airport access bus/coaches the length of access time varies as there a vast variety of buses travelling to different parts of the city. Bus/coaches are also affected by the traffic conditions in Kuala Lumpur as there is no dedicated bus lane comparing to Singapore where bus/coaches have dedicated lanes on the road. Bus/coaches are also slower compared to taxi and automobiles as they travel at slower speeds, some buses such as the public buses have multiple stops along the way thus increasing the travelling time.
Next for the reliability of the bus/coaches, their availability is subjected to different routes and destinations. For the frequency of the bus/coaches, they vary for the different operators, for example for Express Coach which is a dedicated airport coach from KLIA to/from KL Sentral the frequency is every 30 minutes which is quite reasonable. The airport free shuttle service from KLIA to KLIA2 runs 24/7 and at a 10 minutes interval which is really convenient for passengers that need to connect from KLIA to KLIA2.
However, some bus/coaches such as Airport Coach which is an intercity airport coach have a frequency of 2hr 30mins to 3 hrs which is not as convenient as it is quite a long wait. And for the dependability of bus/coaches, they are not as dependable as compared to automobiles, taxis, and trains as the bus/coaches might not arrive on time due to varying road conditions and bus availability.
Lastly, for check-in requirements passengers can check-in for their flight before they travel to the airport, this allows them to catch the bus later, however, passengers need to factor in extra travelling time as the buses might be delayed or stuck in traffic and might cause passengers to miss their flights.
In conclusion, bus/coach are fairly convenient and it is the most affordable way to access the airport however it is not as dependable as compared to the other access modes as Kuala Lumpur has a lot to catch up on when it comes to the efficiency and reliability of the city's public transportation system, having ranked #95 out of 100 cities in a recent in 2017 study on sustainable urban mobility. And having occasional bus breakdowns as the bus/coaches are not properly maintained.
ii) Rail Access
Rail Access is a great alternative to road access at KLIA as the roads of Kuala Lumpur is always congested and traffic jams are common. It is catered to the passenger's needs by having luggage storage areas as well as affordable prices. This can help to ease road congestion and pollution.
In KLIA and KLIA2 there are dedicated airport link train service which is the KLIA Ekspress and the KLIA transit which connects passengers from KLIA to the city centre.
Dedicated Airport Link
There are 3 different rail service options the train service which is part of urban or regional transits, intercity networks and lastly the dedicated airport link. The Rail Access for KLIA is dedicated airport link, these train services are catered to travellers as these trains provide luggage storage spaces and it provides direct access to the city centre with no or few stops along the way.
KLIA Ekspres Fares:
It is the fastest way to get from KLIA to the city centre. it is a non-stop service to the KL City Air Terminal (KL CAT) located in KL Sentral which will take just 28 minutes.
KLIA transit:
The KLIA Transit is a transit train service with 3 stops along the journey at Bandar Tasik Selatan, Putrajaya/Cyberjaya, and Salak Tinggi ((inclusive of a 1-minute stop at KLIA). The transit train service will take 39 minutes.
The trains are equipped with comfortable seats, digital entertainment, wheelchair seat restraint, wheelchair-friendly washroom, and luggage racks.
Evaluation of Rail Access
Based on the 3 key considerations, for the length of access time it is the fastest way to the airport and from the city centre with just a travelling time of just 28 minutes for the KLIA Ekspress and a travelling time of just 39 minutes.
The train is not affected by any traffic or weather conditions along the way thus it would face lesser constraints and difficulties compared to road access. The trains operate rather frequently at an interval of 15 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes during off-peak hours for KLIA Ekspress. And for the KLIA Transit, it operates at an interval of every 15 minutes during peak hours every 30 minutes during off-peak hours.
However, the train service is not as dependable compared to automobiles and taxies as the train experience frequent breakdowns for example on Friday,16 March 2018 the KLIA Transit train has a door malfunction causing passengers to be stranded for an hour.
Lastly, for check- requirements there are flight check-in facilities located at KL Sentral this allows passengers to avoid the airport rush and are able to check-in at KL Sentral instead when they are flying with Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Dragon and Malindo Air as they provide city centre check-in service. It is located at KLIA Ekspres Departure Hall, located within the KL City Air Terminal. Passengers only need to have a valid train ticket to use the facility. The minimum check-in time is 2 hours before the flight departure time (or 1.5 hrs for domestic flights without checked baggage). This will allow passengers to squeeze in last-minute errands or shopping in the city before boarding the train for the airport.
In conclusion, I feel that the rain access is the best airport access mode compared to the road access as the traffic in Kuala Lumpur is congested thus traffic jams could result in a huge delay and the train is the fastest option and also relatively affordable and it also provides city centre flight check-in which allows passengers to check-in even before reaching the airport.
C. Parking Facilities
There are 4 Different types of parking facilities located at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
KILA:
1. Short-term parking
Short-Term Car Park is located adjacent and is connected to the Main Terminal Building.
There are more than 5,700 bays for passenger’s convenience.
STCP BLOCK A,B & C (NORMAL PARKING)
After the 24th hour, the normal rates will be re-applied on top of the previous charges.
2. Long- term parking
STCP BLOCK A (LONG TERM PARKING) EFFECTIVE SINCE 20TH DEC 2019
PARKING E - NEXT TO SAMA SAMA HOTEL (NORMAL PARKING) EFFECTIVE SINCE 01ST JAN 2020
3. Long-term remote parking
For long term parking, travellers are advised to use the designated Long-Term Car Park (LTCP) located near Malaysia Airports Training Centre.
Free shuttle service from LTCP to the terminals is available every 10 minutes.
LTCP (NORMAL PARKING)
Preferred parking
Passengers can avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot by choosing to use the Preferred Parking facility.
Preferred Parking is located at Level 2, Block B & C of the Short-Term Car Park giving nearer access to the Main Terminal building.
There are more than 300 bays at the Preferred Parking.
STCP LEVEL 2, BLOCK B & C (PREFERRED PARKING) EFFECTIVE SINCE 20TH DEC 2019
4. Other Parking
Valet parking:
For added convenience, passengers can choose to use the Valet Parking facility.
It is fully guarded by 24-hour security surveillance cameras.
KILA2:
1. Short-term Parking:
There are 5,800 parking bays available gateway@klia2 shopping mall. Passengers can access the Main Terminal building through the mall by taking the lift to level CP4.
Touch & Go (TNG) facilities are available at all Public Parking entrances and exits.
There is an additional charge of 10% for TNG usage, on top of the parking tier rate.
Flat MYR20.00 fee will be charged per day after the initial MYR46.00 per day for the first 3 days.
2. Other Parking:
Valet parking
Passengers can choose to use the Valet Parking facility which is fully guarded by 24-hour security surveillance cameras.
It is conveniently located at Level 3, gateway@klia2 shopping mall next to the departure drop-off area.
Evaluation of Parking Facilities
There are potential constraints and limitations of these parking facilities, firstly for the short-term parking the constraints are that they are higher in rates compared to long-term parking it is not suitable for departing passengers who would be away for a long period of time.
Secondly, for long-term parking, its limitations are that they are located further away from the terminals compared to short-term parking which would be a hassle for passengers to travel to the terminal.
Thirdly, for the long-term remote parking, it would be the Long-Term Car Park (LTCP) located near Malaysia Airports Training Centre, its constraints would be that it is being located a distance away from the airport, thus passengers would need to take a shuttle bus from the parking facilities. The shuttle service might not be reliable or punctual, causing inconvenience to the passengers.
Lastly, for the other parking, there is valet parking available at KLIA however it is expensive as it costs Rm16/hr and RM7/hr subsequent thus it is not feasible for departing passengers to use this parking facility.
D. References (APA)
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Kuala Lumpur International Airport is a 3-Star Airport. (2020, June 16). Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://skytraxratings.com/airports/kuala-lumpur-international-airport-rating
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Parking KLIA. (2020). Retrieved June 20, 2020, from http://www.klia.com.my/getting-around/transport/parking
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Rental Services KLIA. (2020). Retrieved June 20, 2020, from http://www.klia.com.my/getting-around/transport/rental-services
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Public Transport KLIA. (2020). Retrieved June 18, 2020, from http://www.klia.com.my/getting-around/transport/public-transport
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Public Transport KLIA2. (2020). Retrieved June 18, 2020, from http://www.klia.com.my/klia2-getting-around/transport/public-transport
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Parking KLIA2. (2020). Retrieved June 20, 2020, from http://www.klia.com.my/klia2-getting-around/transport/parking
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Rental Services KLIA2. (2020). Retrieved June 20, 2020, from http://www.klia.com.my/klia2-getting-around/transport/rental-services
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Khor, S. (2017, November 07). Study: KL Has One Of The World's Least Reliable Public Transportation Systems. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://says.com/my/news/study-kuala-lumpur-s-public-transportation-system-is-one-of-the-worst-in-the-world
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Bhd, E. (n.d.). KLIA Ekspres - The fastest way between KL Airport and KL City. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://www.kliaekspres.com/
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The Star Online. (2018, March 16). KLIA Transit train passengers stranded for an hour after door malfunction. Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/03/16/klia-transit-train-passengers-stranded-for-an-hour-after-door-malfunction
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Bus services at the klia2 terminal. (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2020, from https://www.klia2.info/buses/