SEPANG – Malaysia Airports has launched a Request for Information (RFI) as part of a strategic review of its duty-free concession model. The review will assess potential approaches to delivering a more distinctive and relevant retail experience, with greater product differentiation and choice that better reflects current travel and shopping patterns.

The review responds to changing passenger expectations and shopping behaviours, which continue to influence demand within airport retail. Rather than beginning with a predetermined concession structure, Malaysia Airports is first defining the experience it wants to create, and identifying the model best suited to deliver it.

An independent benchmarking exercise against regional and international airports has identified opportunities to strengthen the existing model and highlighted alternative approaches to further enhance the passenger retail experience. Building on these findings, Malaysia Airports is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to gather market perspectives and better understand different commercial and operating models, industry capabilities and investment appetite.

Malaysia Airports Managing Director Dato' Mohd Izani Ghani said, "Following the recently issued RFI for our airport advertising estate, this review extends our focus to another important part of the commercial environment. While each area has different requirements, both exercises reflect our wider effort to ensure that commercial offerings contribute meaningfully to the airport experience."

"This is why we are taking an evidence-led approach. We have benchmarked different models internationally, and the RFI allows us to test those findings against market insights and industry capabilities. That will give us a stronger basis to determine what is right for our passengers and our airports over the long term."

The RFI is a market-sounding exercise and not a procurement process. No decision has been made on the future concession model or whether Malaysia Airports will proceed with any subsequent procurement exercise.

Incumbent duty-free concessionaires have been engaged throughout the review process. Individual engagements were followed by a joint dialogue session to explain the objectives and approach of the RFI, provide clarity on the process and give operators the opportunity to raise questions and share their perspectives.

The findings from the RFI will be assessed alongside the benchmarking results and other relevant considerations before Management develops its recommendations to the Board. Any future recommendations will be guided by data and market insights, with the passenger experience remaining the primary consideration.

Malaysia Airports will continue to engage relevant stakeholders throughout the process and conduct the review in a fair, transparent and objective manner.

Interested parties are invited to submit their responses electronically in both PDF and Excel (Financial) format to the Strategy and Development Unit.

Request for Information Submission Details

Submission deadline: 2 October 2026, 5.00 pm MYT

Submission method: Electronic submission in PDF and Excel (financial) format to the Strategy and Development Unit.

URL: https://corporate.malaysiaairports.com.my/en/business/business-opportunities/commercial-leasing-opportunities

Email: dutyfree@malaysiaairports.com.my

SEPANG – Malaysia Airports has launched a Request for Information (RFI) to gather industry insights on the future development of its airport advertising estate. Leading global airport media operators, advertising concessionaires and strategic partners are invited to share their capabilities and potential approaches.

The exercise forms part of wider efforts to prepare the airport network for its next phase of growth. Alongside infrastructure and operational improvements, Malaysia Airports is reviewing how its commercial assets and partnerships can contribute more effectively to the terminal environment and support the long-term development of its airports.

The scope covers advertising opportunities across KLIA Terminal 1, KLIA Terminal 2 and selected airports throughout Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Malaysia Airports recorded 104.5 million passenger movements across its local network in 2025, offering access to a broad mix of international, domestic and regional travellers.

Malaysia Airports Managing Director Dato' Mohd Izani Ghani said, "Our airport network offers significant reach across a wide range of passenger segments and markets. Through this RFI, we want to understand how that potential can be developed into a more effective airport media ecosystem that serves brands and partners while contributing positively to the passenger experience."

"This is also an opportunity to reinforce our airports as gateways for tourism and business, as well as spaces that reflect Malaysian identity. The insights received will help us determine how airport advertising can support our broader ambition to position Malaysia as the most connected country in Asia Pacific."

The review focuses on three areas: enhancing terminal ambience, strengthening the commercial potential of the advertising estate and accelerating its digital transformation.

Malaysia Airports is seeking insights on how data-informed audience measurement, automated media capabilities and omnichannel engagement can enable brands to connect more effectively with travellers. The review will also consider smart-airport integration and energy-efficient Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) solutions that complement passenger wayfinding and the wider terminal environment.

The advertising estate spans terminal buildings, Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS), DOOH screens, airport trolleys and other Malaysia Airports-owned infrastructure.

Market feedback is also being sought on potential delivery models, including a unified nationwide concession, regional clusters or other suitable structures. Respondents may provide views on Minimum Annual Guarantee (MAG), revenue-sharing arrangements, passenger-linked models and other rental mechanisms.

Sustainable operating practices and relevant Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles will also form part of the assessment.

Interested parties are invited to submit their responses electronically in PDF and Excel (Financial) format to the Tender, Contract Management and Business Improvement Unit.

SEPANG – Malaysia Airports is aware of an incident involving a section of the external ceiling structure at the inner lane of the pick-up and drop-off area at Kuching International Airport (KCH), which was affected due to heavy rainfall and strong winds earlier today.

Our primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of passengers, airport users and staff. The affected area has been secured, and our teams are on site carrying out safety inspections and coordinating the necessary response measures.

Airport operations are ongoing, with efforts focused on ensuring safe access to the terminal and minimising inconvenience to passengers.

SEPANG – Malaysia Airports welcomes the Government’s comprehensive plan to strengthen airport security, as announced by Minister of Communications YB Dato’ Seri Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil. A more coordinated multi-agency approach will enable the relevant authorities to carry out their responsibilities according to their respective areas of expertise, while allowing Malaysia Airports to focus on our core mandate of ensuring safe, secure and efficient airport operations.

Malaysia Airports welcomes the clearer roles and accountability established among implementing agencies through the National Immigration Command Centre (NICC) and the Joint Ministry of Home Affairs–Ministry of Transport (KDN–MOT) Technical Committee, which will support more coordinated implementation. Together with designated liaison officers across the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) and Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), as well as Malaysia Airports through its operational and Aviation Security (AVSEC) functions, this supports a whole-of-nation approach to border security and control. AVSEC will continue to contribute through its established responsibility of safeguarding civil aviation operations against acts of unlawful interference or attempted threats that may jeopardise the safety of civil aviation and air transport, such as passengers carrying firearms on board.

Under the newly announced arrangements, we welcome the agreement to allow targeted physical pat-down screening to resume, where warranted based on risk assessment. This will provide an additional deterrent alongside handheld metal detectors. The deployment of K9 units by PDRM and JKDM is similarly welcomed as a complementary measure to AVSEC’s existing role.

In parallel, Malaysia Airports is augmenting existing security measures through the deployment of enhanced screening equipment at KLIA and other regional airports.

Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani said the coordinated approach addresses a longstanding challenge in managing security at the country’s airports, where issues can often cut across the mandates of multiple agencies, “For many years, national security matters have required us to respond to challenges that extend beyond the airport operator’s core mandate. This coordinated approach provides much-needed clarity on roles and responsibilities, ensuring that each agency can bring its respective authority and expertise to bear. We remain fully committed to playing our part and working alongside the Government and enforcement agencies to safeguard the country’s gateways.”

Engagement with the relevant authorities and agencies remains ongoing to ensure continued alignment and provide the necessary operational support for the effective implementation of these security enhancements.