There was a time when airports were just transit terminals for air travellers. Today, they have become lifestyle and business destinations in their own right. The future promises an even more exciting prospect as airports are evolving into becoming cities in their own right. Malaysia Airports’ Runway to Success 2016 – 2020 business plan envisions the company becoming a leading developer of airport cities as they prepare for tomorrow through the ambitious KLIA Aeropolis.
Going forward through Runway to Success 2020
The launch of their five-year business plan Runway to Success 2020 (RtS2020) back in 2016 consists of two main thrusts – strengthening Malaysia Airports’ core
business and to expand and diversify their operations. The two main thrusts are further broken up into four strategic pillars, namely elevating Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as a preferred ASEAN hub, enhancing total airport experience for all their stakeholders, developing KLIA Aeropolis, as well as increasing their international footprint.
Under this plan, there have been several major achievements. One of it is the full acquisition of the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkey which gives them access to an offshore asset considered by the industry to be one of the fastest growing airports in Europe.
This means that Malaysia Airports have been elevated to a whole new level; they are now one of the top five airport operator groups in the world.
Aeropolis – Airport City of Tomorrow
KLIA Aeropolis is the embodiment of their vision to become the global leader in creating airport cities. Measuring 100 sq km, KLIA Aeropolis aims to be a thriving hub of business and lifestyle, and its conceptualisation was inspired by the expected evolution of KLIA from being just an airport to an economic enabler. The key projects for the Aeropolis include a theme park, hotel, KLIA Aerotech Park, KLIA Cargo and Logistics Park and Regional
Transshipment Centre.
In fact, KLIA Aeropolis has been chosen to be the initial site of the world’s first digital free trade zone (DFTZ) outside of China. The Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba Group will be making use of existing facilities in KLIA to set up their regional e-fulfilment hub, in line with the development of their Air Cargo & Logistics cluster within KLIA Aeropolis. The Aeropolis also aims to focus on two other business clusters apart from Air Cargo & Logistics, namely Aerospace & Aviation, as well as meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) & Leisure.
Mitsui Outlet Park – The Paradise Village
Located 60 km from Kuala Lumpur and 6 km from KLIA and klia2 is a factory outlet shopping mall offering a myriad of upper-middle to high-end off seasoned brands and products, Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang (MOP). A joint venture project between Malaysia Airports and Mitsui Fudosan, Japan’s renowned real estate and retail property developer, it is Malaysia Airports’ first cross-border joint venture of the real estate/non-airport development.
MOP has been granted the Entry Point Project (EPP) status under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), and has a projected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI) of RM235 million and RM220 million respectively by year 2020. MOP is also expected to create more than 2,500 job opportunities upon the completion of its third and final phase. With the second phase recently completed and the third by 2021, MOP is slated to be ASEAN’s largest outlet mall with over 260 outlets.
Thanks to its strategic location at the heart of Malaysia’s aviation gateway, KLIA and klia2 will form the nucleus around different zones which will be dedicated to a number of aspects. With that in place, the next stage will see the enhancement of lifestyle choices in the area. As opportunities for business grows so too will the number of people, leading to demand for hospitality choices, retail, dining and other leisure and entertainment options.
All in all, KLIA Aeropolis is the City of the Future. A thriving centre of business, lifestyle and trade, that draws on KLIA’s strong connectivity as a regional aviation hub
