For those travelling between South Korea’s Incheon Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, this agreement will help provide a more seamless experience.

Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL) and AREX Airport Railroad Co. Ltd (AREX) have signed a landmark partnership agreement to streamline the travel experience for passengers between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Incheon, South Korea. (ERL is the parent company of KLIA Ekspres.)

Under this collaboration, travellers can now purchase bundled ERL and AREX train tickets on Klook in a single transaction. This innovative service enhances the convenience for passengers by pre-arranging airport transfers, thus removing the stress of arranging transport upon arrival.

ERL hopes this partnership will pave the way for an alliance among airport rail operators, similar to airline alliances like OneWorld and Star Alliance. Such an alliance would allow members to cross-promote, offer exclusive benefits to passengers, and promote sustainable travel.

“Currently, there are more than 25 dedicated air rail services worldwide. This number is sufficient for airport rail operators to form an alliance similar to an airline alliance. We are motivated to reach out to other operators to materialise this alliance in the near future,” said Noormah Mohd Noor, CEO of ERL, at the signing ceremony.

“We would also like to thank AREX for their commitment to ensuring the success of this partnership. Through this collaboration, we hope to tap into the Korean market and increase awareness of our train services among Korean tourists planning their travel to Kuala Lumpur. Korean tourists can now enjoy a seamless and efficient transfer from the airport to the city centre, enhancing their overall travel experience,” she continued.

Kim Jong-dae, CEO of AREX, added, “We look forward to sharing each other’s strengths and know-how and providing more convenient railway services to travellers between the two countries through close cooperation in various fields.”

The signing ceremony was attended by Noormah Mohd Noor, CEO of ERL, Kim Jong-dae, CEO of AREX, and His Excellency Yeo Seung-bae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Malaysia. Yeo Seung-bae noted, “This agreement will further solidify the relationship between our two countries and serve as a crucial step in enhancing the quality of railway services.”

Following the ceremony, AREX delegates visited ERL’s in-town flight check-in facility at KL Sentral. Currently, three airlines—Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, and Cathay Pacific—operate from KL Sentral, with self-service check-in kiosks available for Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, KLM, and Ethiopian Air passengers.

The ERL & AREX Bundle Package has been available for sale on Klook since July 15, 2024. To celebrate the launch, a promotional 10% discount is offered at RM71.65 for a one-way adult ticket for the first 500 tickets. Terms and conditions apply.