KUALA LUMPUR: Passenger traffic is likely to increase throughout Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's (MAHB) network of airports during the upcoming festive holidays.
The airport operator said the recent relaxation of domestic travel would spur its passenger traffic in particular at the main hub of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
MAHB expects more than 99,000 domestic passengers and 19,000 international passengers at KLIA travelling between December 24 and December 31.
Group chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said the safety of MAHB's passengers continued to be its main priority.
"With the surge in passenger movements in the next couple of weeks, our airports are ready to accommodate the increase with the strictest compliance to the new standard operating procedures (SOPs).
"Our airport front liners will be on ground to help passengers and ensure the processes at each touch point are carried out efficiently and for their utmost safety," he said in a statement today.
He reminded all passengers to adhere to the new norms of travelling including by wearing face masks, practising physical distancing and frequently sanitising and washing hands to keep them clean.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, all airports have installed contactless thermal screening at departing and arriving touchpoints as well as sneeze guards at all counters to minimise physical contact.
Sanitisation is carried out at least eight times a day at all passenger heavy areas and facilities such as toilets, check-in counters, lifts, escalators, seats and baggage trolleys, among others.
MAHB has also leveraged on the usage of technology and recently introduced the Ultraviolet Chamber (UVC), which produces UV light that interrupts the transmission of airborne infectious pathogens for its toilets to further curb the pandemic.
"We also have hand sanitisers placed strategically across the airport building for the added convenience of our passengers," he said.
Mohd Shukrie said MAHB's service levels had been optimised to not only mitigate the safety risks but also congestion and long wait time at touch points and high traffic facilities such as the food and beverage (F&B) outlets at the airports.
"We have expedited our Airports 4.0 journey to digitalise the passenger experience. Our latest initiative was the implementation of a contactless ordering and payment system at the F&B outlets where guests make their order and pay online immediately without the hassle of queueing at the counter.
"This new technology ensures a safer guest experience as physical distancing at the outlets can be more effectively observed," he added.
MAHB urged passengers to adhere to travel advisory including checking with respective airlines on the latest flight schedule, eligibility to travel based on the latest SOPs announced by the government and requirements for any additional documents or medical test for Covid-19 swab test.