SEPANG — KL International Airport (KLIA) will undergo various upgrades over the next decade to accommodate the growing demand for air travel, both domestically and internationally.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the focus was not only on upgrading the facilities but also the ambience.

“An airport is the first and last impression of a country, so we must continue to offer a positive and lasting impression to every visitor,” he said during the airport’s 16th anniversary celebration at its main terminal yesterday.

Badlisham said for the first five months of the year, 20.3 million passengers passed through KLIA, representing a growth of 12 per cent over the same period last year.

“We are on track with the projected 26.7 million passengers by the end of the year,” he said.

During this period, the airport also recorded 140,000 aircraft movements, a growth of nine per cent from the same period in 2013.

“This was due to rising demand for air travel, expansion of routes, as well as the Tourism Ministry’s promotional activities for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and the Year of Festivals 2015,” he said.

“To date, a total of 63 airlines operated from KLIA to more than a hundred destinations. Last year, KLIA welcomed seven new airlines: Air France, Turkish Airlines, Philippines Airlines, Iraqi Airways, Regent Airways, Shanghai Airlines and Malindo Air.

“In April, we also welcomed Flynas, a national carrier and the first Saudi Arabian low-cost airline, to our list of airline partners.”

He said it was not just the responsibility of frontline personnel to deliver the best customer service.

“More efforts need to be taken to create a seamless airport experience for passengers,” he said.

KLIA’s commitment to service excellence was recognised recently when it was voted the second best airport at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2014.

“On top of that, KLIA has been consistently voted by Skytrax for the Best Staff Service award since 2010. To be acknowledged for three consecutive years in this area is absolutely phenomenal,” he said.

“We were also voted the World’s Best Immigration Service in 2010, 2011 and 2013.”