KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has expressed dissatisfaction with contractors Alstom and the IJMC-PESTECH Joint Venture (IPJV) over their failure to instil confidence in the reliability of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) aerotrain system, following a series of recent breakdowns.
In a statement, the airport operator said preliminary assessments had revealed a decline in system reliability, particularly affecting the vehicle and power distribution components.
“Despite receiving data and assurances from the contractors, the information provided has not instilled sufficient confidence in the current reliability of the aerotrain system,” MAHB said.
The company said it had formally addressed concerns with both contractors and demanded immediate corrective action.
As part of a broader response, MAHB said it is implementing a comprehensive action plan led by its project team, with participation from the contractors, project consultants, and an independent technical assessor.
The plan, currently under development, involves close coordination with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the Transport Ministry (MOT) to resolve ongoing issues.
To minimise disruption, MAHB said a full shuttle-bus service will operate nightly between 11pm and 5am to allow for inspection and repair works, while a concurrent shuttle-bus service will run from 5am to 11pm daily alongside the aerotrain to ensure passenger movement remains uninterrupted.
“Malaysia Airports is ready to mobilise extensive resources to provide full shuttle-bus services, according to the requirements of the comprehensive action plan,” it said.
Since the aerotrain’s resumption of service in July 2025, MAHB said it has carried more than 6.55 million passengers across nearly 95,000 trips.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to restoring full confidence in the aerotrain system.
“Passenger safety and comfort remain our top priority, and we are committed to upholding the highest operational standards,” the statement added. — November 2, 2025