Malaysia Airports is elevating the total airport experience for its passengers at Kuching International Airport (KIA) by introducing the new cashless airport initiative that will also boost the state's digitalisation efforts.

This new digital initiative at KIA which is in collaboration with Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (‘Digi') through its e-wallet app vcash was launched on Monday, 2 April, by Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said that KIA will take the lead among all airports in Malaysia as the first truly cashless airport offering multiple digital payment options, a move that supports the company-wide digitalisation efforts.

MAHB is undergoing a digital transformation that encompasses the use of big data analytics that will allow them to better anticipate foot traffic flows and reduce choke points and congestion at the airports.

Badlisham had also said that the unveiling of the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy Book 2018-2022 which aimed to propel the state into the digital economy is in tandem with the type of improvements that Malaysia Airports wishes to do at airports under its management.

"The strategic decision made by the Sarawak government had made Kuching International Airport an easy choice for us to launch this Cashless Airport initiative" said Badlisham.

vcash is a mobile payment application that offers Malaysians an easy, more convenient way to pay, send, request and store money in their smartphones. It features an enhanced layer of security in making payments, and eliminates the need for small notes and queuing at ATM.

vcash is available across all telco operators and can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App store.

Meanwhile, Digi will also equip KIA with high-speed WiFi connection.

According to Badlisham, about 70% of retailers at the airport had come on board to offer cashless convenience to airport visitors. Nevertheless, Malaysia Airports is anticipating that KIA will be 100% a cashless airport once Sarawak's own mobile payment platform Sarawak Pay is made available at the airport soon.