When it comes to international travel in Malaysia (before the COVID-19 pandemic, that is), Kuala Lumpur International Airport tends to be the first name that would immediately spring to mind. Launched in 1998 and serving as the nation’s most prominent global travel hub, KLIA isn’t only considered to be one of the largest airports in Southeast Asia, but in the world as well. And to add to its luster, it has also been crowned as one of the top 10 best airports in the world in the first quarter of 2021 by Airports Council International (ACI) for the category of over 40 million passengers per annum (mppa).
KLIA ranks World No.1 in Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey for Q4 2021
But that’s not all. As it turns out, KLIA is set to add yet another feather to its cap after The Star newspaper reports that the ACI has recently announced that the airport currently ranks number 1 globally in its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey for the fourth quarter of 2021!
For those who are not in the know, the ACI represents a global union of airport authorities that comprise of over 641 members operating 1,957 airports in 176 countries and territories across the world. It’s quarterly Airport Service Quality Award (ASQ) is often considered to be the most prestigious award granted in the industry, alongside Skytrax’s World Airport Awards.
KLIA has consistently been awarded high scores by the ACI
In a statement released by Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad, which operates and manages KLIA as well as the neighbouring klia2 low-cost carrier terminal, KLIA managed to eke out 9 other global airports for the prestigious recognition in the category of over 40 million passengers per annum (mppa) . Keep in mind, competition in this category has proven to be incredibly stiff, given the all around 5.00/5.00 perfect scores that each airport received in the rankings.
According to MAHB managing director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, KLIA has consistently been awarded the maximum 5.00 score for the ASQ element of ‘feeling safe and secure’ in 2021, and adds that the airport has been able to implement a number of improvement initiatives during the brief standstill in international travel as a result of the pandemic, which has enabled them to come back stronger than before.
“The previous lull had enabled us to implement many improvement initiatives, and the perfect ASQ score is a validation of the effort put in by the entire airport community.
“To be placed first alongside other global airports is also an honour for the country,” he said.
Iskandar adds that the current trajectory for the local aviation industry appears to remain positive, especially after the recent announcement of two new local airline carriers as well as additional flight routes being introduced.
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