2014年5月1日星期四

Thousands throng KLIA2 open day

Thousands throng KLIA2 open day

Over 20,000 people flocked to the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) for its open day yesterday.

There were clowns, contests, lucky draws and performances but the main attraction was the airport tour.

Visitors on the tour were given "boarding passes" and brought to the sky bridge, and through the departure and arrival halls.

Those who did not wish to join the long queue spent the day walking around the airport's shopping mall.

Of the 225 outlets, 118 lots were allocated for retail, food and beverages (81), and services (26).

Some of the guests gave the thumbs up to the airport, while others gave suggestions on how their experience there could be improved.

They were pleased with the connectivity which made it convenient to use the Express Rail Link (ERL) service, with more shops and facilities at the new low-cost carrier terminal.

Nor Azrul Amshah, 32, who was among the first to arrive, said he was excited to see the new airport.

"My family and I fly frequently, so we were excited to check out the airport.

"We don't want to be confused or lost when we arrive for our next vacation," said Nor Azrul.

Norrafidah Mohd Ali, 38, from Sepang, who travels frequently on Air Asia, felt comfortable in the spacious new airport.

"As it is not too far from my house, I can come here to dine or shop with my family," she said.

Tour guide Noor Asyikin Ahamad from Andalusia Travel and Tours and her colleagues were please with the airport's spaciousness.

"We bring umrah groups twice daily and with over 100 people in each group, we need a big space to assemble and give our briefings," she said.

According to Noor Asyikin, briefing is the most important part of the job in airports where their clients are told where to go and what to do. Unlike KLIA, where there is a small stage for briefing pilgrims.

Noor Asyikin was told that she could use any empty space available in KLIA2 for the task.

"There are more counters here, so we will be able to check in faster. Our clients are mostly elderly or don't have much experience with airports, this layout won't confuse them," she added.

Wheelchair-bound Abdul Rashid Hamzah, 56, from Ipoh, however, found it a struggle to get to the different floors of KLIA2.

"The elevator are too far away and this could be a problem if I am rushing for a flight," he said.

"In KLIA, only those with boarding passes are allowed to borrow the airport wheelchairs. I hope, at KLIA2, they will also allow those who come to fetch or send-off their loved ones to use the airport's wheelchairs as well," he said.

Vivian Tan and her group of colleagues from a travel agency in Malacca and Johor were disappointed with the design of the new airport.

"The direct high-speed train service from KL Sentral is an advantage but those who a travel agency will have problem with their luggage. Travel agencies have to drop their passengers on level 1, and from there they have to go up to level 3 to check in.

"To do that, we have to take the lift and get off at level 2. We could not find any lifts on level 2 to take us up up to level 3.

"This will be a problem especially for those who have several pieces of luggage and are travelling with children or elderly," said Tan.

Khairul Nizar Razak who was there with his wife and two children said they were pleased with the ERL service.

"We live in Bandar Baru Bangi and normally take a taxi to the LCCT, 30-minute ride, depending on the traffic.

"But with the ERL, we only have to take short trip by taxi to Putrajaya Sentral to board the ERL which will bring us straight to KLIA2," said Khairul.

In conjunction with the open day Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd is offering free return trips between KL Sentral and KLIA2 to 1,000 who register online.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

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