Rejoice: Kuala Lumpur Airport Terminal Train To Restart Services on July 1, 2025

After five years of defect, the terminal connector train at Kuala Lumpur International Airport will finally restart services on July 1, 2025, as airport management of KLIA announced yesterday.

The suspension of the train between the main terminal and the KLIA satellite terminal has been a major deficiency for one of Southeast Asia’s largest airports and a major Oneworld hub.

KLIA’s train system connects the main terminal with the satellite terminal. It has been out of service for FIVE YEARS now and was first expected to be back in service in Summer 2024, but that date came and went.

Now an entire year behind the schedule the service is finally able to be restarted on July 1st

The arrival and departure experience at the satellite terminal is anything but pleasant. They make you trek through the entire airport to the “bus lounge,” where you then board a bus that is sitting there forever with open doors (humidity and heat galore) before you’re eventually ferried like cattle to the main terminal.

Malaysia Airlines premium passengers can utilize the limousine service, which I covered several times before, but this service will obviously come to an end when the train is up and running again.

Malaysia Airlines Changes KLIA Transfer Limousine Partner To Mercedes Benz

The train is a much better option than any limousine service, though. Just a quick 1-minute ride and you’re over in the satellite, so there is no need for a car.

According to The Star, July 1st is finally the day when the connector goes into operation again:

The much-awaited Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Aerotrain is set to return to service as early as July 1, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

“It stopped operations several years ago, but today I am happy to announce that the project is completed with various trials conducted. It will undergo several more tests soon, including the Emergency Response Plan test, together with the authorities.

“If everything goes well, it will begin operations at 10am on July 1,” Loke said at a press conference at KLIA on Saturday (June 21).

Loke mentioned that the Aerotrain project will enhance KLIA’s service and image.

He also said the current shuttle bus system will operate concurrently to facilitate better passenger movement.

“These are among the mitigation measures to ensure all passenger movement at KLIA runs smoothly,” he said.

Loke said that there are currently three Aerotrain sets, with two sets to run concurrently while one remains on standby.

During off-peak hours, however, only one train will operate to allow for maintenance work.

Off-peak hours are between 12am and 5am.

Each train has three carriages and can carry a total of 270 passengers at one time.

That’s a rather unusual time to open the service. Why 10 am on July 1st when it’s ready to go earlier? Does it need to start at 10 am sharp rather than just letting it go at a random time or at midnight?

I wouldn’t put it past them to have some ridiculous ribbon-cutting ceremony and patting themselves on the shoulder for taking five years to put a train back into service. That would symbolize Malaysia 100%.

As I said before, China managed to build an entire modern airport from scratch within a few years. However, it’s not as if Malaysia is alone in the bungling of airport developments and infrastructure quality. Both Europeans and Americans have little to be proud of, as almost all airports in their countries are in a state of disrepair.

After two bad experiences (on JAL & THAI), I avoided taking flights that go from the satellite terminal. This means you have to take Malaysia Airlines regional flights that always use the Main Terminal. The regional lounge is also open, which is more than adequate. No way would I take the bus just to visit the MH First Class Lounge.

Conclusion

The KLIA train, which connects the main terminal to the satellite building, is finally coming back into service. The opening date has been set for July 1st, but not just any time – they will open the floodgates at exactly 10:00 am. Probably not before some airport and government hotshot makes a speech and cuts a ribbon.

What’s especially annoying is that the connector train is still inoperative after five years. What exactly are they doing with this thing? There wasn’t a single worker to be seen anywhere the past few times I was there, just like with all the closed and boarded-up concessions.

I’m not exactly sure what is going on at this airport. There aren’t any visible construction efforts that are ongoing. Maybe MAHB should have handed over the responsibility for the project to a Chinese developer that’s building the mega airports there and let them run it, too. You can say about China what you want, but they get the job done when it comes to buildings.

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