For most travellers, airports are places of transition - a blur of check-in counters, security lanes and departure gates. But at KL International Airport, the atmosphere can sometimes feel different.

Cameras are unpacked, tripods set, and a quiet sense of anticipation fills the air as aviation enthusiasts gather - reflecting a growing vision of airports as lifestyle destinations, where aviation passion meets community engagement.

For planespotters, this is more than simply watching aircraft take off and land. The planespotting hobby is meticulous work: enthusiasts track aircraft types, airline liveries, flight numbers and, when luck allows, rare or special aircraft that appear only briefly before disappearing from view.

From the margins to managed access

Once, planespotting sat on the fringes of airport life. Very strict rules - driven by legitimate safety and security concerns - often discouraged the practice. Over time, however, Malaysia Airports began to recognise that interest in aviation could also be channelled into something constructive. 

Today, planespotting is encouraged through structured, safe avenues that allow the public to engage with aviation while protecting operations.

Opening up aviation, responsibly

Thoughtfully organised planespotting events illustrate that shift. By creating a controlled environment for enthusiasts, Malaysia Airports has shown that aviation curiosity and airport safety can coexist. It is part of a broader rethink of what airports can be - not just infrastructure, but spaces for shared learning and community.

Supporting this is Anjung Spotter, a purpose-built deck introduced in 2019. Located along Jalan Pekeliling near Runway 32L, the open-air platform - refreshed in January 2024 - accommodates up to 40 visitors and offers a clear, safe vantage point. With shaded seating and nearby parking, it welcomes seasoned spotters and first-time visitors alike.

Where community meets coordination

Physical spaces alone are not the whole story. Through MYElites, a curated planespotting community, enthusiasts gain supervised access to observe airport operations more closely.

Members are vetted, briefed and guided - ensuring every session is aligned with strict safety protocols. For many, MYElites has transformed what was once an informal hobby into something more organised and meaningful.

For Nik Mahmood Farid, 54, who has been spotting aircraft for more than two decades, the difference is clear. What was once challenging and limited is today supported through clearly defined platforms.

The engineer, known fondly as “Pok Nik,” attends most MYElites sessions - about 80 to 90 percent - including special coverage for inaugural flights across Malaysia.

Even in poor weather, he turns up. For him, planespotting is not only about aircraft movements, but the friendships forged along the way - a chance to reconnect, exchange notes, and share a passion that spans generations.

A spotter-friendly reputation takes shape

That sense of camaraderie is echoed by Hoo Jiong Sheng, 31, an assistant medical officer who started spotting in 2015. The community, he said, is small but tightly connected. MYElites chat groups and social media keep members updated, especially when unusual aircraft are expected.

Sometimes, there’s no plan at all - only the hope of a surprise. During a recent event, Hoo captured a rare EVA Air aircraft he hadn’t anticipated. “Moments like that,” he said, “are what keep the hobby engaging.”

Malaysia’s relatively open approach plays a big role. In many countries, public access near airport perimeters is very limited. Here, designated areas and structures such as Anjung Spotter make the experience both safer and more welcoming - a point frequently noted by visiting enthusiasts.

Experience built over time

According to Ong Keat Siong, 46, who works in corporate treasury and has photographed aircraft since the mid-1990s, Malaysia’s spotter-friendly reputation did not happen overnight. Early on, the community comprised perhaps only 20 or 30 enthusiasts, and airport security was significantly tighter.

Through years of engagement, authorities began to understand the value of involving responsible enthusiasts. Discussions stretched across operations, security and management, gradually leading to formal initiatives such as MYElites and better-designed viewing spaces.

Today, planespotting continues to grow - helped by social media and easier sharing of information. While equipment can be expensive, Ong describes it as a healthy hobby that develops slowly, much like learning a skill over time.

Beyond the terminal experience

Malaysia is now seen as one of the most spotter-friendly destinations in Southeast Asia - and aviation communities elsewhere often look on with a hint of envy. That reputation doesn’t just build goodwill; it also encourages aviation-focused travel. 

Many enthusiasts plan visits around planespotting experiences, inaugural flights or rare aircraft appearances - trips that, in turn, generate cultural and economic value as they explore the destinations around the airports they visit.

The approach extends beyond KL International Airport to other locations across the network, including Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, Subang, Kota Bharu and Bario STOLport. 

In shaping planespotting into a guided public experience, Malaysia Airports has shown how aviation passion can be channelled constructively - turning a niche hobby into a shared space for learning, connection and appreciation of flight.

KL International Airport is steadily becoming a lifestyle destination for aviation enthusiasts - a place to return to, observe, learn and share in the experience of flight, all within a safe and thoughtfully managed setting.

This Driving Transformation series is a collaboration with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB)