Malaysia's busiest airport cuts ride-hailing pickup fee to 49 cents at both terminals

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has cut the entry fee for e-hailing vehicles to a flat RM2 (US$0.49) at both its terminals.

The new rate, inclusive of tax, replaces charges of RM3 at Terminal 1 and RM2.16 at Terminal 2 starting from last week, Bernama reported.

T1 serves full-service and medium-service carriers like Malaysia Airlines, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Qatar Airways, while T2, located two kilometers away, serves low-cost carriers like AirAsia and Scoot.

Airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said the change would give passengers and drivers one consistent fee.

MAHB introduced the Terminal 1 charge on Aug. 4 to fund the operation and maintenance of an upgraded pickup area, The Star reported.

The overhaul added a license plate recognition system, indoor waiting lounges and on-ground marshals.

Within a month, 99.3% of e-hailing drivers were completing pickups and leaving within the 10-minute grace period, up from 49.4%, the New Straits Times reported, citing MAHB.

Travelers arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, Malaysia, Nov. 29, 2021. Photo by Reuters

The number of vehicles entering the pickup lanes daily fell 13.5% to 7,024, which the operator attributed to less unauthorized activity and idling.

Peak-hour capacity rose from 302 to as many as 660 vehicles an hour.

KLIA, Malaysia's busiest airport, handled 63.3 million passengers in 2025, up 10.8% from a year earlier, according to MAHB data.