KOTA KINABALU - Malaysia Airports continues its proactive efforts in enhancing the shopping experience of guests at the airport through a commercial reset strategy or 'Commercial Reset'. The resettlement of commercial lots through the various segments until July 2020 has already reached 50% completion status at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (IATA Code: BKI) after it was introduced in November 2018.

This 'Commercial Reset' strategy introduced by Malaysia Airports aims to improve the business profile of retailers by improving the location and variation of the retail market at the airport. Among the main catalyst segments for this 'Commercial Reset' are the tax-free retail segment, fashion, entertainment business (retailtainment), food industry as well as the 'Sense of Malaysia' retail theme where the commercial value applied is more geared towards localized sales.

Identifying this strategy as one of the important projects in part to improve the experience at the airport, Malaysia Airports Group Chief Executive Officer, Dato 'Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, said, 'This strategy aims to introduce and ensure the right combination of brands and shopping experience smooth for long-term sustainability. '

'In addition, to assist tenants and retailers at our operated airport, under the same strategic umbrella, we have also introduced a new rental model to retailers starting in January 2021.'

Recently, Malaysia Airports announced a new rental model for retail tenants operating at the organization's operated airports under its 'Commercial Reset' strategy. This new rental model gives retailers the opportunity to enjoy rental reductions of up to 30% from current rates. This new rental model can also ensure the success of this 'Commercial Reset' strategy as it can help Malaysia Airports offer attractive packages to retailers for them to operate at the airport and improve the quality of products offered. This strategy can also help bumiputera retailers to raise their profile on the international track. To date, more than 30% of the BKI retail area is occupied by bumiputera retailers.

Apart from that, Malaysia Airports also announced the improvement of the aircraft parking facility by three more units next to the cargo hangar at BKI with a cost of about RM20.7 million. The new aircraft parking is expected to be completed within 15 months from July 2020 to October 2021. With this addition, the total aircraft parking at BKI will amount to 34 units. As of last month, a total of five airlines operate from BKI, namely Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, MasWings, Malindo Air, Xiamen Air and cargo aircraft such as MASKargo.

'In 2019, BKI will handle 9.4 million passengers and more than 82,000 aircraft movements. We expect the post-COVID-19 passenger increase to recover in stages. Therefore, this upgrade will benefit BKI to be better prepared to face this increase ', added Mohd Shukrie.

To increase security efficiency at the airport, Malaysia Airports also announced the replacement of 17 units of X 'dual view' scanner machines at BKI. The project, which cost about RM3.6 million, has been in operation since August 2020 and is capable of enabling security personnel to detect prohibited or dangerous items in passenger luggage carried out more efficiently and effectively.

(C) 2020 Electronic News Publishing, source ENP Newswire