Malaysia Airlines has come up with an amazing solution to alleviate the pain of the suspended Aerotrain at KLIA Airport, having secured a fleet of BMW i7 electric vehicles to provide an exclusive terminal transfer service between the two buildings.

The airline will be offering elite service to its Enrich Platinum and Business Class passengers starting February 1, 2024, through cooperation with BMW Malaysia and its local dealer network.

While this will still require a longer than normal transfer time between the terminals, it’s a lot more comfortable than the packed bus parked with open doors in the tropical climate of Malaysia.

Malaysia Airlines announced the new partnership yesterday and provided more information about the operation which is going to start on February 1st:

Malaysia Airlines today announced that it will be introducing an exclusive private terminal transfer service for its passengers to travel in premium comfort between the Main Terminal Building and the Satellite Building of KLIA Terminal 1, in collaboration with BMW Group Malaysia through their dealer partner, Ingress Auto Sdn. Bhd.

Beginning 1 February 2024, Enrich Platinum, Business Suite, and Business Class passengers flying with Malaysia Airlines will get to experience a heightened level of luxury as they will be chauffeured in style with the all-electric BMW i7. The 24-hour service offers a sustainable and premium travel option exclusively for Malaysia Airlines’ passengers, in addition to the Premium Bus transfer currently provided by the airport operator following the temporary suspension of the aerotrain service.

During this initial phase, a fleet of BMW i7 vehicles will be deployed to serve departing passengers, with the pick-up point located at Gate G1 of the Main Terminal Building. The airline will also be deploying additional units to serve arriving passengers in the near future, following the completion of the arrival lounge at the airport’s Satellite Building.

Passengers can enjoy the assurance that the premium service is intricately tailored to ensure individualised experiences, eliminating any concerns about sharing rides. This exclusive service guarantees dedicated transportation, with vehicles allocated for solo travellers, couples, and families up to four (4) passengers per car; ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey as part of the end-to-end customer experience.

Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi, Chief Executive Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), said “With this exclusive service, we aim to enhance the travel experience for our top-tier customers, ensuring that they can enjoy premium comfort as part of their end-to-end journey with us.

As the only carrier offering this temporary personalised service to our passengers in light of the aerotrain’s temporary suspension at KLIA Terminal 1, it underscores our dedication to elevating our standards of service to ensure a premium travel experience, while also reinforcing our commitment to embedding sustainable practices with the selection of the all-electric BMW i7 series. We look forward to extending this service to our arriving passengers as part of our continuous efforts to ensure a fuss-free and enjoyable experience driven by our inimitable Malaysian Hospitality.”

Rabian Ab Rahman, Managing Director of Ingress Auto Sdn Bhd, meanwhile said,“We are thrilled to partner with Malaysia Airlines in providing a luxurious and electrifying travel experience for their premium passengers. The BMW i7, with its fully electric capabilities, represents the epitome of innovation and sustainability in the automotive industry, aligning seamlessly with our commitment to delivering Sheer Electric Driving Pleasure in Malaysia. We look forward to contributing to the elevated standards of service offered by Malaysia Airlines.”

Am I reading this correctly that passengers arriving at the satellite and/or transiting to a regional flight from the main terminal will not be able to use these cars for now? Will the vehicles just drop off passengers and then drive back empty?

I’m quite curious how a fleet of currently five cars (pictured) is supposed to stem the amount of Business Class guests eligible for the service and how widely this will be promoted by Malaysia Airlines at KLIA.

Despite the 7 series being very spacious in the back, I’m also skeptical of how they want to jam three people in the back seat. That will be extremely tight and unless it’s one family I wouldn’t be necessarily fond of having close body contact with a stranger like that.

The same happened to me at the Lufthansa First Class Terminal last summer, where Lufthansa wanted to pack an entire minibus to the brim with passengers extremely close to each other, some with baggage on their laps. I decided to refuse that ride and demanded that they organize a second vehicle.

Of course, in this particular case, passengers can always wait for the next ride and hope it’s not as full or take the bus if that’s the preferred option.

I guess there is no ideal way of handling this for the time being, although I have no understanding for the situation at KLIA, which is a complete mess, and I fail to see the reasoning for the Aerotrain being out of service for more than a year. This should be something a capable company and airport management could take care of in a few weeks/months.

I covered the KLIA situation in November when I stayed in Malaysia for a couple of days and had both my arrival (ANA) as well as departure (THAI) from the satellite terminal.

Airlines other than Malaysia Airlines, including their oneWorld alliance partners (including oneWorld Emerald members on MH), will not be able to benefit from this new service, so the bus will remain the only option.

A friend recently traveled between Bangkok and KL when I made sure to recommend him take a flight with Malaysia Airlines rather than Thai Airways. MH’s regional flights usually arrive and depart from the main terminal building.

Conclusion

Malaysia Airlines premium passengers in Business Class and their Enrich Platinum members will be able to benefit from a new elite transfer service for passengers departing from KLIA’s satellite terminal.

Starting February 1, 2024, a fleet of BMW i7 vehicles has been procured to shuttle the passengers between the main terminal departure area at gate G1 to the satellite building.

The press release mentions that right now, the service is available to passengers DEPARTING KLIA, but it’s not clear what exactly that means. After all, a transit pax would also be departing, although from another terminal. Time will tell how practical and well organized this service is going to be.