Kuala Lumpur Airport disinfecting arriving baggage with automatic UV disinfection system

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) has started disinfecting arriving baggage with its new automatic ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system as part of its continuous efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The new facility comprises UV bulbs installed in an enclosed tunnel within the baggage handling system (BHS) which disinfects baggage automatically as it passes through the conveyor system. Two out of four tunnels at the airport have been successfully installed, while the remaining tunnels are expected to be completed in April 2021.

The UV radiation system is the latest initiative in Kuala Lumpur Airport‘s ‘Airports 4.0’ initiative to ensure that airport safety remains at the highest level. By leveraging this new technology, passengers can now collect their fully sanitised baggage confidently and with peace of mind.

According to the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Malaysia Airports, Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh: “We have been investing heavily into UV technology because the ultraviolet short wavelength has been proven to effectively eliminate surface contaminants, such as mould, bacteria and other microbial biofilms. In 2020, for our washrooms, we installed the UV Chamber (UVC), which produces UV light to interrupt the transmission of infectious airborne pathogens. We are continuing our efforts with these UV tunnels to further mitigate the risk from infectious airborne microbial contaminants not only for passengers, but also the ground staff handling the baggage.”

“As an airport operator, it is important for us to ensure that the overall passenger experience is dealt with care by considering the multiple touchpoints of the journey. With this new UV technology in place, passengers can be assured of their safety when collecting their clean and sanitised bags at the reclaim area. We are currently undergoing a major asset upgrading exercise for the BHS, and the UV disinfection tunnels are new permanent features of it,” Dato’ Mohd Shukrie added.

With the roll out of the COVID-19 National Immunisation Programme in February 2021, Malaysia Airports is looking forward to the gradual recovery of air travel by staying committed to ensuring a safe and smooth passenger journey and will continue to explore new technologies and the latest global practices to restore passenger confidence through a consistent set of hygiene and safety standards.