Passengers using e-hailing services at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) now pay a standard RM2 entry fee for pick-ups at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
The new rate took effect on Sept. 16 and includes tax. It replaces the previous RM3 charge at Terminal 1 and RM2.16 at Terminal 2, giving passengers and e-hailing operators a single rate regardless of which terminal they use.
The fee is linked to e-hailing vehicles entering the designated airport pick-up area. For passengers, the change means the airport entry charge is now the same at both terminals.
The move comes after KLIA introduced an upgraded e-hailing system at Terminal 1 in August, including dedicated passenger waiting areas, structured pick-up bays, self-service kiosks, on-ground marshals and licence plate recognition technology connected to passenger information displays.
Malaysia Airports said the changes have already produced significant improvements in the way e-hailing vehicles move through the pick-up area.
Within one month, 99.3 per cent of e-hailing drivers were completing their passenger pick-ups and leaving within the 10-minute grace period, up from 49.4 per cent previously.
Daily vehicle traffic entering the pick-up lanes also fell 13.5 per cent, from 8,124 vehicles to 7,024. At the same time, peak-hour processing capacity increased from 302 vehicles to as many as 660 vehicles per hour.
The airport operator said the improvements have helped reduce unauthorised activity, unnecessary vehicle circulation and prolonged idling, while allowing genuine passenger pick-ups to move more smoothly.
The 10-minute grace period remains in place, meaning drivers are expected to complete the pick-up and leave the designated area within the allotted time.
For passengers, the combination of a lower standardised entry fee and a more structured pick-up system could make airport transfers less complicated, particularly for travellers arriving at different KLIA terminals.
But the system will still depend on passengers being able to reach the correct pick-up area promptly and drivers complying with the time limit.
With KLIA continuing to tighten control of its e-hailing lanes while increasing vehicle processing capacity, the bigger question is whether the new RM2 fee and upgraded system will finally make airport pick-ups consistently faster and less stressful for both passengers and drivers.
