PUTRAJAYA: Passengers departing during the Christmas and New Year’s festive period should be at KL International Airport (KLIA) at least four hours before departure.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said this was because it expects a surge of travellers during this period.

Arriving early will allow passengers to navigate through check-in, security vetting, and boarding processes with minimal delays, it said in a statement to Bernama.

KLIA is also upgrading its baggage handling system at Terminal 1, which could lead to additional processing times at different points, MAHB added.

Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of KLIA are expecting average daily passenger traffic to total 79,200 and 66,400, respectively, up to the end of the year.

MAHB said it is upgrading its baggage handling system at Terminal 1 as part of its asset replacement programme.

“This upgrade is a crucial initiative to maintain and improve the overall airport infrastructure and the ongoing works may lead to additional processing time at various points within the airport.

“Malaysia Airports appreciates the understanding and patience of all passengers as these essential upgrades are implemented to ensure a safer and more efficient travel experience.

“Passengers are encouraged to cooperate with airport and airline staff during this period and allow for extra time to accommodate any unforeseen delays,” it added.