KL Sentral to offer check out baggage service

KUALA LUMPUR - Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL), the operator of KLIA Express and KLIA Transit, plans to launch its baggage check out service at KL Sentral in January 2008.

KLIA Express and KLIA Transit are the mass rapid trains that ply between KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur’s main transportation hub, and the KL International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang.

Currently travellers going to KLIA via KL Sentral can only check in their baggage.

According to ERL’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Aminuddin Adnan, the baggage check out service would be --the first of its kind in the world.”

ERL is talking to Malaysia Airlines to package its fares with tickets so that passengers must have ERL tickets to check out their baggage at the KL City Air Terminal at Sentral.

It also plans to work with Cathay Pacific and Royal Brunei, the other two airlines using its check-in services at Sentral, for the check out service.

The check out service will use e a high-speed baggage handling system, estimated to cost over RM100 million (US$29.4 million), which utilises the tray system capable of handling baggage that is five times faster than the conventional conveyor system, said Dr Aminuddin.

He estimated that 20% of travellers to Kuala Lumpur via the KL International Airport currently used the KLIA Express.

ERL hopes the ridership will increase to between 25% and 30% of travellers to the capital once the check out system is implemented.