The KLIA Terminals 1 and 2
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) features two terminal buildings. However, they operate distinctively, with separate facilities and amenities. That being said, they share the KUL airport’s runways. The two terminal buildings (KLIA terminal 1 and KLIA terminal 2) lie within 2km/1.2 miles from each other and are connected via bus and train. However, as they function independently, they aren’t linked airside.
Our Tip: KL City Air Terminal (Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal or KL CAT) is located in KL Sentral and operates as an extension of KLIA Airport. With its own IATA Code (XKL), KL CAT allows passengers to check in for their upcoming flight before boarding the train to Kuala Lumpur Airport. Thus, they can reach their boarding gate as soon as they hop off the train at KLIA Airport. It’s important to remember that for the time being, only Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air Malaysia passengers can check in at KL City Air Terminal.
KLIA Terminal 1
Kuala Lumpur international airport terminal 1 -KLIA terminal 1 or KLIA Main as it is often called- is the main terminal building serving international and domestic flights to and from KUL Airport. It houses a wide number of conventional airlines. Expectantly, Malaysia Airlines is one of them. The terminal boasts countless services and amenities, offering its passengers a memorable and relaxed travel experience. Its design is impressive, being influenced by Islamic geometry (patterns, arches, etc.) as well as the tropical rainforests. Indeed, the green element dominates Kuala Lumpur Airport, evident not only in its interior but also in its surrounding area, which is planted with trees and greenery. Plus, the airport is technologically advanced, continuously staying up to date and harmonized with advancements in the aviation field to facilitate the relevant processes and make air travel safer and more efficient.
Kuala Lumpur airport terminal 1 began operation in 1998. It is located between the two runways and features a total of 242 check-in counters, 130 immigration counters, 26 customs counters, countless shops, and restaurants, as well as moving stairs, prayer rooms, and all the amenities expected to be found at one of the busiest air hubs in the world. It can accommodate up to 25 million passengers annually and consists of the main building, a contact pier, and a satellite building.
KLIA main terminal building spreads over 5 levels. In detail, its layout is as follows:
- Level 5: Departures (check-in counters, luggage drop-off, etc.), Shops
- Level 4: Food court (Food Paradise), Airline Offices
- Level 3: Arrivals, Duty-free
- Level 2: Food Garden, Access to hotel, car parks, and bus station
- Level 1: Transportation hub (taxis, tour coach lounge, train station)
You’ll find Airport CARE ambassadors around the terminal available to assist you with everything you may need at the time.
Apart from the main building, KLIA terminal 1 also features a Contact Pier. The Contact Pier (CP1) is directly connected to the main terminal. Thus, passengers practically don’t even realize where one building ends and the other begins. CP houses the Kuala Lumpur airport terminal 1’s gates A, B, H, and G. Moreover, the Aerotrain linking the main terminal to the Satellite terminal A can also be found on the Contact Pier’s fourth level. Overall, the Contact Pier handles domestic flights (it is a hub for Malaysia Airlines’ domestic flights), flights to Singapore, and mixed flights.
The CP has two floors:
- Level 4: The International Gates are situated here (Gates H and G), along with immigration counters, customs, etc. A Duty-free zone is also available on that level, as well as various shops and eateries. That level also houses the transfer center for international passengers with connecting flights, while the Aerotrain to the Satellite terminal departs from there. Its stop is centrally located on the floor.
- Level 3: It houses the Domestic Gates (A and B). Here lie the transfer desks for passengers transferring from a domestic to another domestic flight or from a domestic to an international flight. Shops and restaurants can also be found on that level.
Finally, KLIA terminal 1 has a Satellite terminal known as Satellite A Building. It isn’t connected to the main terminal but lies within a 2.5-minute ride with the Aerotrain from the Contact Pier. The Aerotrain is driverless. It is an automated people mover that operates every 3-5 minutes.
The Satellite building of KLIA terminal 1 serves international flights. It features the Gates C and spans over two levels. It is particularly known for the natural rainforest that is located centrally on the building. An actual rainforest with more than 39 types of plants, over 3660 trees, and one waterfall lies in the heart of the terminal, complete with a boardwalk.
The KLIA terminal 1’s Satellite building’s layout is:
- Level 1: Gates C, Transfer desk (from international to international flight), Aerotrain station (on the west side), Shops
- Level 2 (Mezzanine Floor): Lounges, Food court
KLIA Terminal 2
Kuala Lumpur international airport terminal 2 (KLIA terminal 2) was previously referred to as KLIA 2. The terminal replaced the old Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), handling all flights operated by low-cost airlines, domestic and international. In fact, KLIA terminal 2 is considered the largest terminal for budget airlines. Air Asia is one of the key airlines present at Kuala Lumpur airport terminal 2. The terminal opened its doors in May 2014. It can accommodate up to 45 million passengers on a yearly basis and boasts 240 check-in counters, 128 immigration counters (28 out of them are autogates), 31 customs counters, and 68 gates. Its gates are divided into five piers: Piers J and K are for domestic flights, and Piers L, P, and Q are for international journeys. The gates are split across two parallel lines, located opposite each other: Gates J, K, and L can be found on a rectangular area that is part of the terminal building, and Gates P and Q on the parallel rectangular building (the Satellite building) that is linked to the terminal via a skybridge. Although Gates K (domestic) and L (international) are situated on the same side, they feature different waiting areas.
A shopping mall, Gateway@KLIA 2, can be found attached to the other side of KLIA terminal 2. It spreads over four levels and houses more than 225 retail stores, along with hotel facilities. It can be found landside at KUL Airport, while Kuala Lumpur airport terminal 2 can be accessed through its second and third level. Gateway@KLIA 2 also features a car park, which is linked to its facilities.
The main terminal building (KLIA terminal 2) has two levels.
- Level 2: Arrivals (immigration, customs, etc.), Baggage claim
- Level 3: Departures (luggage drop, check-in, checkpoints, etc.), Airline offices, Stores
Right in the middle of the rectangular area that houses Gates J on one side and Gates K and L on the other lies the Skybridge, the 300m/0.18 miles bridge that connects KLIA terminal 2 to its satellite building. The Skybridge leads passengers to the middle of the rectangular Satellite building. Similar to the layout of Gates J, K, and L, Gates P are located on one side, while Gates Q are situated on the opposite side. The Skybridge is equipped with moving walkways. Thus, passengers can make their way to the Satellite terminal in just 5 minutes. Moreover, it features glass walls, allowing seamless views of the airport’s transit area. To make transit even more comfortable, the Skybridge is divided into two levels. Departing passengers use level 3, whereas arriving passengers move through level 3A.
The Satellite terminal of Kuala Lumpur international airport terminal 2 houses Gates P and Q and features two levels:
- Level 3: Duty-free, Stores, Lounges, Food court, Hotel
- Level 2: Piers P and Q, Kids zone, Stores, Transfer counters*
*Please keep in mind that transfer desks can also be found at Pier L of the KLIA terminal 2.
How to Travel between KLIA Terminals
Even though they are operating like separate airports, KLIA terminal 1 and KLIA terminal 2 are connected via a free airport shuttle. It’s important to remember that the terminals are linked only landside. Thus, passengers can’t move from one terminal to the other unless they have passed through security. The free KUL airport shuttle operates the following route: from KLIA terminal 1 it heads to KLIA terminal 2, then reaches the Long-term Car Park and returns to terminal 1. The purple buses operate around the clock every 15 minutes and stop at terminal 1 for 10 minutes, whereas at terminal 2 and the Long-term Car Park, they stop for 4 minutes. Overall, they take around 10 minutes to travel between terminals (from KLIA terminal 1 to KLIA terminal 2), 10 minutes from KLIA terminal 2 to the Car Park, and 6 minutes from the Car Park to KLIA terminal 1. Their pick-up point (and waiting area) can be found on terminal 1’s first level (Door 4 of the main terminal building) and the first level of the Transportation Hub located at the Gateway shopping mall (Bay A10).
Alternatively, travelers can use one of the bus lines serving KUL Airport or the train (KLIA Ekspres or KLIA Transit) to travel between terminals. However, those services come with a fee.
FAQs
How far are terminals 1 and 2 in Kuala Lumpur Airport?
KLIA terminal 1 is located 2km/1.2 miles from KLIA terminal 2. The two terminals are linked via a free airport shuttle bus. Thus, travelers need about 10 minutes to get from one terminal to the other.
How many terminals are at Kuala Lumpur Airport?
Kuala Lumpur International Airport features two terminal buildings. KLIA terminal 1 and KLIA terminal 2 operate with distinct facilities and amenities. However, they are interconnected (landside) via a free airport shuttle bus.
Is KLIA 1 or 2 for international flights?
Both Kuala Lumpur international airport terminals serve international flights. That being said, KLIA terminal 1 handles flights operated by conventional air carriers. On the other hand, KLIA terminal 2 is a low-cost terminal handling international flights by budget airlines.
How to transfer between KLIA 1 and KLIA2?
An airport shuttle bus connects KLIA terminal 1 to KLIA terminal 2 and vice versa. The service is provided free of charge. Alternatively, KUL passengers can board one of the buses that serve the airport or catch the train to travel between Kuala Lumpur airport terminals. However, in that case, they have to pay the relevant fee.
Which terminal is Batik Air at KLIA?
KLIA terminal 1 is the terminal that handles all flights -domestic and international- apart from the ones operated by low-cost airlines. Therefore, Batik Air is present at Kuala Lumpur international airport terminal 1. All Batik Air flights fly to and from KLIA terminal 1.