Kuala Lumpur International Airport (IATA: KUL, popularly referred to as KLIA) is the main international airport in Malaysia, located 28 miles (45 km) south of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur.

Standalone terminals

Apart from being the gateway to one of the world’s busiest international routes, between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, KLIA sits on a piece of former agricultural land that is among the largest airport sites in the world. The 39-square-mile (100-square-kilometer) site is more than eight times the size of London Heathrow, and nearly 1.5 times larger than Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Photo: CK Tan via Wikimedia Commons

KLIA consists of two terminals, which had been previously known as KLIA and klia2. As of early this year, the terminals are being rebranded to KLIA Terminal 1 and KLIA Terminal 2. What’s unique about the terminals is that they stand almost as two separate airports, each with its own facilities (in the above photo, the dark green building is Terminal 1 and the white building is Terminal 2). While they share the same runways, their entrances are a seven-minute drive apart. Passengers can get from one terminal to the other via a free shuttle bus service or inter-terminal rail transfer, known as the KLIA Aerotrain.

Terminal 1

KLIA Terminal 1, also known as the Main Terminal, is the primary hub for a multitude of airlines, offering a diverse range of domestic and international locations. Travelers can access an array of domestic and international flights, enjoying a blend of comfort and convenience. As the national carrier of Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines operates from Terminal 1.

Other airlines that utilize this terminal include international airlines and flag carriers, such as:

• Air Mauritius
• Batik Air
• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Emirates
• Eva Air
• Garuda Indonesia
• Himalaya Airlines
• Lion Air
• Myanmar Airways
• Oman Air
• Philippine Airlines
• Qantas
• Royal Brunei Airlines
• Saudia
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways
• Vietnam Airlines
• Xiamen Airlines

Terminal 2

KLIA Terminal 2 is dedicated to low-cost carriers, offering an array of affordable travel options. AirAsia Group (including AirAsia and AirAsia X), a prominent low-cost carrier in the region, operates a significant portion of its flights from Terminal 2, providing economical travel opportunities within Malaysia, across Asia, and to a select few long-haul destinations.

Another Malaysian low-cost carrier that operates from Terminal 2 is the newly established MYAirline. Both AirAsia and MYAirline share the terminal with:

• Cebu Pacific Air
• Jetstar
• Scoot

Kuala Lumpur International Airport's terminal layout ensures that passengers can easily connect between terminals for onward journeys. The dedicated bus and Aerotrain service operate within the airport, shuttling passengers swiftly between terminals 1 and 2, streamlining the travel process and offering access to a range of airlines.