KUALA LUMPUR: The Langkawi travel bubble pilot programme holds the potential to spur the revival of airports as well as domestic aviation operations.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said the pilot Langkawi trvael bubble programme which kicked off today has been the catalyst for the reopening of businesses at airports.
"With slightly more people coming to the airport today for their travels, we get to see some of the businesses at airports reopening.
"Even though business resumption is on a small scale, it is still considered a good start. It is indeed a revival of the airport.
"Previously, when we come to the airport, with strict permission to travel, we could hardly see any other souls; but today, we get to see people getting excited to travel again," he told the New Straits Times during his inspections at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today.
Wee was accompanied by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) general manager (operations) Shahrunnizam Abd Jamil during his inspections at KLIA and klia2 to oversee the Langkawi travel bubble programme kick off at the airports.
Wee said today had also marked a milestone for domestic aviation operators as they resume services to the popular travel destination.
On the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the programme, Wee said the travellers' SOP adherence is at the highest level.
"Travellers strictly adhered with the SOPs and safety measures put in place, such as doing their Rapid Test Kit-Antigen (RTK-Antigen) Covid-19 screening before their flights, here.
"Some even had done their tests beforehand and they simply needed to get their test result checked by the officers in charge here. Others brought their own Covid-19 saliva test kits and did their screenings here.
"These steps are good safety measures because on-ground management will get a database of passengers who were screened and cleared to go to Langkawi."
Wee said one air passenger tested positive for the virus during screening at the airport.
"The necessary actions were taken, and the family members were not allowed to board the plane.
"It was a sad situation, as we understand they must have already been waiting long to travel, but again, this proves that this is why there are such screenings in place before travellers board their flights."
Wee said the SOP was to provide a sense of security for travellers as it will be more costly if Covid-19 infections go on spreading.
When asked about domestic travels to other destinations in the near future, Wee said it would depend on the outcome of the Langkawi travel bubble programme.
"This pilot programme will be a good experience for us to look this matter, while determining our next plan in domestic travels," he said.
The NST was told that 1,520 travellers on eight flights departed from KLIA and klia2 bound for Langkawi today.