Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew has urged budget airline, Air Asia, to use the aerobridge at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) for the sake of elderly and disabled passengers.
The facility, she pointed out, is already available at KKIA, and she sees no reason why the airline shouldn’t prioritise passenger comfort.
“I have received complaints from senior citizens on AirAsia flights, citing discomfort and inconvenience in having to walk a considerable distance from the terminal to the aircraft before struggling to climb the steps to board the plane,” Liew said in a statement on Saturday.
“Let us be mindful of the difficulties faced by elderly and disabled passengers and avoid subjecting them to unnecessary trouble before and after their flight.”
KKIA management doesn’t have the power to force airlines to use the aerobridge. Instead, the authority lies with the airlines themselves and so far, AirAsia has opted out likely to avoid the extra cost that come with it.
Liew is now calling on the Federal Transport Ministry to step in, pointing out that Sarawak’s Transport Ministry successfully required AirAsia to use the aerobridge at Kuching International Airport.
Still, KKIA presents a different challenge: unlike Kuching International Airport, not all gates are equipped with a direct aerobridge connection, making implementation tricky. – February 8, 2025
