Why Many Shops Are Closed in KLIA?

Why Many Shops Are Closed in KLIA?

Have you visited KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) recently? Did you notice that many shops are closed in KLIA? As usual, we went to the check in counter, get our boarding pass and starts to walk to the departure hall, we were surprised to see many shops are closed in KLIA Departure Level.

Most retail outlets facing the check in counters are closed. You can see it from the photos. We remember there were bank, shop and restaurants back then and now all of them are closed.

Some say the retail outlets leasing is up for renewal, some say the increment of the rental fees so what is the main reason for this?

We don’t like rumours and speculation so we asked Malaysia Airports and they told us that they are in the midst of commercial reset or ‘Reset Plan’.

“Hi Wilson Ng, for your information, we are in the midst of commercial reset in KLIA at the moment. We will be revamping our retail spaces mainly at our five international airports in the next three to five years.”

Hi Wilson Ng, for your information, we are in the midst of commercial reset in KLIA at the moment. We will be revamping our retail spaces mainly at our five international airports in the next three to five years.

— Malaysia Airports (@MY_Airports) October 16, 2019

This is part of their Reset Plan as announced last year. Malaysia Airport’s commercial services’ senior general manager, Mohammad Nazli Abdul Aziz, said after its commercial Reset strategy that this plan would involve five of its airports: the KL International Airport (KLIA), KLIA2, Langkawi International Airport, Kuching International Airport and Kota Kinabalu International Airport. The retail outlets will be divided to duty free, food and beverage and high fashion.

Honestly, this is good news as Visit Malaysia Year 2020 is just weeks away. We always felt that KLIA needed a facelift and this is the right time before the Visit Malaysia Year 2020.

Hopefully this will give KLIA a new refreshing look and more organised retail shops. We spotted new 7 Eleven, Coffee Bean and Din Tai Fung will be opening soon. This will add more value and choices for travellers in KLIA.

KLIA also upgraded the Malaysian Passport Autogate, you can read here.

So why many shops are closed in KLIA? They are revamping for a better KLIA. Keep calm and travel safe.

Wilson Ng