PETALING JAYA: With the revised Passenger Service Charge (PSC), airports must now have better facilities and services for passengers, say stakeholders.

The airports’ ambience, air quality and temperature standards, as well as their washrooms and passenger seating all need to be improved, said Malaysian Tourism Federation president Datuk Tan Kok Liang.

He also said more immigration counters should be opened during peak periods, besides having better WiFi connectivity, improved boarding bridges, upgraded check-in facilities and more food and beverage options.

He suggested that EV vehicles be used for passenger transfers.

However, he said the revision of the PSC, which makes travel within Asean more expensive, was unlikely to deter Asean tourists from visiting Malaysia.

Asean arrivals constitute around 70% of international arrivals.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Nigel Wong said the newly-introduced transit charges should be reviewed to help airports function more effectively as hubs and attract more flights.

“Compared (with other countries), regionally our prices are still very reasonable and manageable, and the PSC increase must result in better services and improved facilities.

“There’s no point in increasing the PSC if there are no significant changes to the level or quality of service at the airports,” he said, adding that improvements should involve faster baggage clearance and proper maintenance of facilities like shuttle trains. He also said traffic management and parking facilities should be improved.Batik Air chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy said the passenger touch-point experience at Malaysian airports had to be improved.

“Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) developed an airport in 1998.... (read more)