Senai airport needs better bus service
TRAVELLERS arriving at the Senai International Airport, who rely on public transport to go to other places in Johor, need to plan ahead.
At the airport, the cheapest mode of transport is the stage bus which drops passengers off at bus stops along the route it is plying.
The bus fare compared to the airport taxi fare could be 10 times cheaper.
For example, it costs less than RM3.50 to take a bus from the airport to Bandar Baru Uda but an airport cab would charge about RM40.
At present, Handal Indah Sdn Bhd, which owns Causeway Link buses, operates a bus service from the airport.
Its stage bus passes Senai town, Jalan Skudai and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak before reaching Larkin Sentral.
It also has a direct bus (express bus) service to the JB Sentral Terminal via the Eastern Dispersal Link.
The stage bus service from the airport to Larkin Sentral runs from 9.30am to 7pm at every two-hour interval.
It does not have a fixed schedule but the departure time depends on plane arrival time.
The direct bus service starts from 6.10am to 11.15pm daily with an hour interval between every bus.
Ticket is RM8 for a one-way journey but it is free for AirAsia passengers who book the bus e-ticket. It has a fixed schedule though.
It makes 18 trips daily, taking an average of 45 minutes to reach JB Sentral.
The direct bus service is an option if travellers miss the stage bus service.
At the JB Sentral, travellers who wish to board a local stage bus will have to walk to Jalan Wong Ah Fook which is about 10 minutes away.
It is not convenient for those carrying a lot of baggage.
Suhaimi Saleh, 37, said the airport bus service can be improved to cater to the increasing number of passengers coming to Johor Baru.
Another passenger, Kathrin Schmelter, 21, said ideally there should be a stage bus or direct bus every 30 minutes so that they can better plan their journey.
Based on my experience, passengers have several things to do at the airport such as waiting for the luggage, shopping or eating.
It would be good to have more stage buses, mini buses or vans travelling to the city.
More transport operators are needed as the airport gets busier and demand for airport bus service increases.
My other suggestion is for the stage buses to have a fixed departure schedule.
There is also a need to improve the waiting area for passengers.
Currently, benches are placed at the entrance of the airport where the booths for bus tickets and airport taxi vouchers are located.
However, the bus will not stop near the entrance but near the end of the airport which is about three minutes' walk from the entrance.
Those new to the airport may get confused with this arrangement.
The benches at the end of the airport could only sit four persons at most.
It is not conducive for senior citizens or mothers with babies who may be forced to stand while waiting for their bus.
There is a big demand for bus service at the Senai International Airport. Pix by Dazar Suarman
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
TRAVELLERS arriving at the Senai International Airport, who rely on public transport to go to other places in Johor, need to plan ahead.
At the airport, the cheapest mode of transport is the stage bus which drops passengers off at bus stops along the route it is plying.
The bus fare compared to the airport taxi fare could be 10 times cheaper.
For example, it costs less than RM3.50 to take a bus from the airport to Bandar Baru Uda but an airport cab would charge about RM40.
At present, Handal Indah Sdn Bhd, which owns Causeway Link buses, operates a bus service from the airport.
Its stage bus passes Senai town, Jalan Skudai and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak before reaching Larkin Sentral.
It also has a direct bus (express bus) service to the JB Sentral Terminal via the Eastern Dispersal Link.
The stage bus service from the airport to Larkin Sentral runs from 9.30am to 7pm at every two-hour interval.
It does not have a fixed schedule but the departure time depends on plane arrival time.
The direct bus service starts from 6.10am to 11.15pm daily with an hour interval between every bus.
Ticket is RM8 for a one-way journey but it is free for AirAsia passengers who book the bus e-ticket. It has a fixed schedule though.
It makes 18 trips daily, taking an average of 45 minutes to reach JB Sentral.
The direct bus service is an option if travellers miss the stage bus service.
At the JB Sentral, travellers who wish to board a local stage bus will have to walk to Jalan Wong Ah Fook which is about 10 minutes away.
It is not convenient for those carrying a lot of baggage.
Suhaimi Saleh, 37, said the airport bus service can be improved to cater to the increasing number of passengers coming to Johor Baru.
Another passenger, Kathrin Schmelter, 21, said ideally there should be a stage bus or direct bus every 30 minutes so that they can better plan their journey.
Based on my experience, passengers have several things to do at the airport such as waiting for the luggage, shopping or eating.
It would be good to have more stage buses, mini buses or vans travelling to the city.
More transport operators are needed as the airport gets busier and demand for airport bus service increases.
My other suggestion is for the stage buses to have a fixed departure schedule.
There is also a need to improve the waiting area for passengers.
Currently, benches are placed at the entrance of the airport where the booths for bus tickets and airport taxi vouchers are located.
However, the bus will not stop near the entrance but near the end of the airport which is about three minutes' walk from the entrance.
Those new to the airport may get confused with this arrangement.
The benches at the end of the airport could only sit four persons at most.
It is not conducive for senior citizens or mothers with babies who may be forced to stand while waiting for their bus.
There is a big demand for bus service at the Senai International Airport. Pix by Dazar Suarman
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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