Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) may already be one of Asia's principal passenger hubs, but its vision goes further than just being somewhere people fly to - it plans to become a destination in its own right, an international meeting place and a centre for business and entertainment.
As airports become an increasingly important link to global markets and a major determinant of a country's competitiveness, KLIA's 6,600 hectares of land gives it a unique opportunity to establish itself as a platform for international business and trade.
Dubbed the Aeropolis, the vision of KLIA operator, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), is to develop non-aeronautical revenues to their full potential with the development of commercial real estate, positioning the airport as a destination for international business and conferences, and tap global supply chains through cargo, warehousing and logistics facilities.
But, while it is looking to maxmise the value of its available land, KLIA is also seeking to develop this with a commitment to create a well-balanced self-sustaining, multifunctional airport community enshrining KLIA's environment principle of 'Airport in the forest and forest in the airport.'
Hence, Kuala Lumpur's aeropolis vision will see the construction of low-rise modern structures including office blocks, hotels, a cinema and even an outdoor training camp interlinked with landscaped parks and gardens.
"Our airport city development strategy is simply to be in a position to accommodate the business and social needs of the airport. We want to attract new business and the type of non-aeronautical related activities that will draw people to the airport," says Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Majid, managing director and CEO of MAHB.
Visitors to the airport can already experience the thrill of watching Formula One (F1) racing at the Sepang Circuit and stay in one of five hotels located within 10km of the airport.
Meanwhile, KLIA is seeking to cement its position as a leading base for low-cost carriers with the planned expansion of an expanded, permanent Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) and its announced intention to become a 'next generation' hub offering seamless transfers to visitors.
