KLIA, located 50km south of KL at Sepang, is the major international gateway for Malaysia. As the regional hub, it has further boosted the growth of tourism and the services sector in the country. It is also the centre of Malaysia's emerging aerospace industry.

The Malaysian government gazetted 100 sq kilometres for its development. The large size of land designated for the airport would allow it to expand as needed to meet future air traffic demands. The site selected was previously plantations of oil palm and other agricultural produce and a small orang asli settlement of 85 families. (These families were relocated to new homes and provided with their own plots of land to cultivate).

This airport is to be developed over 3 phases. The 1st phase (completed) commenced full commercial operations on June 28, 1998. It is currently capable of handling 25 million passengers and 1 million tonnes of cargo a year.

The opening day cost of the 1st phase is estimated at RM8 to RM9 billion.

The current facilities include:
1) Main Terminal Building (MTB) with 80 gates (contact, remote and multi-aircraft ramp stands)
2) Satellite Building
3) Two runways.
4) VVIP complex (Bunga Raya Komplex).

The four-armed Satellite building has an area of 143,404 sq metre (1.55mn sq ft) and is located some distance away from the MTB. International flights depart and arrive at this terminal complex. Passengers have to take the Aerotrain (automated track transit system) from the MTB to catch their flights from here.

KLIA has been designed as a four-runway airport. Currently, it has 2 full service runways, each is 4 kilometres long and 60 metres wide. The operation of 2 runways with parallel approaches and departures enable this airport to handle more than 72 flights per hour.

The 2nd phase envisage facilities which will increase the airport's capacity to accommodate 35 million passengers by 2008 while the 3rd phase will cater for 45 million passengers by 2012. It is envisaged that further development will enable KLIA to handle up to 100 million passengers per year.

K.L. International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang is designed and built to be an efficient, competitive and world-class hub airport for the Asia-Pacific Region. It replaces the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport (formerly Subang International Airport) at Subang as the main gateway into the nation. The new mega airport, complete with the latest technology and state-of-the-art facilities, aims at providing maximum passenger safety, comfort and convenience. It is unique because it has within its boundaries all that is needed for business, entertainment and relaxation. The airport is part and parcel of the Multimedia Super Corridor, where placement of high technology industries are being actively pursued. KLIA is within 20 minutes from Putrajaya, Malaysia'a new administrative centre. It is also linked electronically and physically to Cyberjaya, a multimedia catalyst centre created for global research and development. Surrounded by four main cities of Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Seremban and Malacca, the airport will be a catchment area and will offer opportunities for a hive of business activities.

SUPERLATIVES AND FEATURES
With a rambling roof resembling white Bedouin tents, the five-level KLIA boasts the world's tallest air-traffic control tower, the biggest columnless hangar, the longest baggage conveyor belt system, biggest passenger lounge and the capacity for 25 million people a year. The airport has a Made in Malaysia, RM24 million Olympex flight information display system. KLIA is the second airport in the world after Munich to have a special chamber to defuse explosives as part of its sophisticated fire-fighting systems. It has two decompression chambers costing RM 3.2 million to dispose of explosive materials. KLIA's fire fighting unit is the most modern in the region. It is the first in the region to secure seven Ultra Large Foam Tender (ULFT) vehicles costing RM 3.8 million each which can be operated in any condition.

ARCHITECTURE
Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, the KLIA is a spectacular feat of construction which combines futuristic technology, Malaysian culture and the rich, tropical splendor of its natural resources. It incorporated forms and systems suggesting advancement and modernization while at the same time, support Malaysia's cultural history.

Every effort has been made to create a homely airport with a serene environment combined with high technology attractions. Nature and greenery will be part of the airport in line with the 'airport in the forest' and 'forest in the airport' concept. The natural environs of the airport will be transformed to functions and activities that continue to enhance nature. The architecture of all the new facilities will maximise the use of the forest concept and imagery with strategic locations designed with high standards of environmental performance in mind.

The abundant forest areas are to be preserved and transformed into an environment park containing recreational facilities. There will also be a golf course within the limits of the airport reserve.

FREE ZONE
A Free Zone, comprising a Free Commercial Zone and a Free Industrial Zone, is being planned in which goods and services of any description, except those prohibited by law, may be brought into, produced, manufactured or provided without any customs duty, excise duty, sales tax or service tax. The Free Zone is designed to promote entrepot trade and manufacturing activity.

The Malaysian Government has provided incentives which would be attractive and viable for investors, who use the commercial and industrial area in and around the airport for mutual benefits.

There is a host of opportunities for foreign investors, both inside and outside the airport area. Within the airport itself there are opportunities in the hospitality, recreational and the airlines industries which include hotel management, supermarket, duty-free outlets, restaurants, airport ground handling, cargo, flight catering, freight forwarding, warehousing, theme park, hotel, golf course, car parks and so on.