When Kisho Kurokawa designed KLIA in 1994, it was planned to be four times its current size
The project came into being in the late 1990s, to relieve the strain on the existing Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. KLIA is designed to be developed in three phases, building up to a final capacity of 100 million passengers per annum. Only the first phase is under consideration here.
The current KLIA main terminal is just the 1st Phase of a grand development planned in 1994
There the current KLIA Terminal 1 is developed with a Main Terminal + 1 Satellite Building for international passengers. Dr. Kisho Kurokawa was appointed to lead Malaysian Japanese Airport Consortium (MJAC). The masterplan was made to accommodate 100MPPA (Million Passenger Per Annum) and supposed to be developed in 3 seperate phases.
- Kisho Kurokawa architect and associates
- Akitek Jururancang (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd
- Pacific Consultants International
- Sepakat Seita Perunding Sdn. Bhd.
- Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn. Bhd
- Urban Design Consultants
- Arklandskap
- GKSekkei
There is already an existing barren land reserved for Satellite Building 2 as seen from Google Earth
As the world’s largest airport, with 5 runways, it aims to be one of the three international hub airports of Asia, particularly in the future era of the HSST (High Speed Surface Transport, the plane flying between New York and Tokyo in 3 hours). The main terminal spans 38.4 m along a grid pattern, allowing for easy expansion in the future.
Which also explained why there are unoccupied infrastructures seen while traveling on KLIA Aerotrain
The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Aerotrain is a complimentary service that shuttles passengers between the Main Terminal Building (MTB) and the Satellite Building. Currently, the aerotrain is being replaced after being in service for 23 years.
We are most probably going to see KLIA Satellite Building B being constructed but not the other 2 Satellite Buildings due to revision of masterplan
The Transport Ministry has indicated that the initiative to enhance Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is slated to commence in 2026, once the terminal reaches 90% capacity.
Sadly, Kisho Kurokawa’s Quad Plus Satellite Buildings masterplan has been revised to a Double Plus Satellite masterplan
According to the ministry, Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) engaged a consultant in 2019 to conduct a comprehensive master plan study spanning 30 years until 2050 for KLIA. The ministry said the study included development requirements involving two phases of development to accommodate the increase in passengers of up to 140 million passengers per anum (mppa) and cargo needs of up to 2.5 million tonnes per year.
Introducing the new KLIA Aeropolis Masterplan: Farewell to the old eye-catching design and welcome to a more integrated masterplan for the next 25 years
The study’s objectives include delineating the trajectory for airport development in Malaysia, encompassing physical infrastructure expansion, airspace necessities, and economic and strategic evaluations. This ensures that airport growth aligns with genuine requirements backed by reliable and precise data.
According to APUDG Facebook post, they have been appointed as the design consulting firm for KLIA. APUDG is set to craft a detailed master layout plan spanning 10km x 10km. APUDG will carry forward the legacy of Akitek Jururancang Malaysia (AJM) and Kisho Kurokawa, the visionaries behind KLIA’s original design in 1992.
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KLIA upgrade expected to start in 2026, says Transport Ministry. (nst.com.my)
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