All passengers who use Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) main terminal will soon have a major incentive to take the environmentally-friendly option of the KLIA Ekspres from downtown KL Sentral to the airport, with the installation by SITA of 10 check-in desks at the Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal (KL CAT).

The 10 AirportConnect CUTE (Common Use Terminal Equipment) check-in desks in KL CAT will be operational from 23 July in good time for the 50th anniversary celebrations of Malaysia’s independence in August.

This will extend from three to 43 the number of airlines based in KLIA main terminal which can potentially offer their customers city-centre check-in, including baggage handling, so turning KL CAT into a true extension of KLIA offering the same check-in facilities available at KLIA which switched over to SITA’s AirportConnect CUTE platform in April 2006.

Dr Aminuddin Adnan, Express Rail Link (ERL) CEO, said, “Implementation of SITA’s AirportConnect CUTE platform at KL CAT is an exciting development.  Now all airlines can offer city check-in in KL Sentral which will grow our business through delivering a common platform for all airlines to access advanced, integrated IT infrastructure that guarantees efficiency, reliability and support for the airlines using the facilities.

“Currently only Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Royal Brunei Airlines offer city check-in service at KL CAT.  We are in talks with several airlines with a keen interest in the service. We are optimistic that more airlines will be offering the city check-in service soon in KL Sentral.  Passengers wishing to use the city check-in facilities are advised to check with their respective airlines on when this service will be available.

“The high speed rail link from KL CAT to KLIA is the fastest and most environmentally friendly means of reaching the airport from the city centre, so expanding our check-in capacity is a ‘win-win’ all round.”

SITA’s Java-based Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled AirportConnect CUTE system offers end-to-end IP connectivity from host to the airport desktop, providing airlines with access to their own systems on an industry-open, multi-purpose platform.  Each CUTE workstation uses a pre-integrated browser and is connected over IP to support the individual airline’s needs.

Russ Lewis, SITA’s Regional Vice President, Airport and Desktop Services for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, commented, “We welcome this partnership with Express Rail Link which will simplify travel for many of the 25 million passengers who use Kuala Lumpur International each year. This new project further enhances SITA’s position as the airline industry’s IT and communications solutions provider of choice in Malaysia where we are also working closely with the national carrier, Malaysia Airlines.”

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