AFTER 23 years of a mutually beneficial collaboration, the long-standing partnership between Aeroline and Hotel Corus KLCC officially comes to an end today as the hotel ceases operations.
The property, located just a ten-minute walk from the Petronas Twin Towers, was recently sold by Malayan United Industries Bhd to Mah Sing Group for RM260 million, bringing the exclusive arrangement between the hotel and the luxury bus company to a close.
“The event today is about a unique relationship rarely seen elsewhere. It represents a synergistic partnership between Aeroline and the hotel owners, MUI Group.
“This strategic relationship has lasted so long, and we only hope it could have continued,” said Law Cheok Gheen, Chief Operating Officer of Zulco Sdn Bhd, the operator of 22 Aeroline buses, after a farewell event themed ‘Journey to Family: A Chapter Written Together’ at the hotel.
Law explained that the government has granted Zulco a moratorium until February 18, 2026, but the hotel will close its doors today.
“We have applied for an extension of the moratorium to allow the transition process to run smoothly during the hotel’s closure,” he said. In the interim, Aeroline passengers will be able to board and disembark at CERES, a nearby jewellery store.
The Aeroline service initially operated from Pudu Raya in the 1990s as one of several bus operators, before relocating to Hotel Corus KLCC in Jalan Ampang. Law noted that the decision was guided by his father, who managed the business at the time, seeking a convenient location for passengers requiring both transport and accommodation.
“Even though it was a small bus company, my father had a far-reaching vision. The Aeroline-Corus relationship successfully generated 7,000 room nights per year for many years from the 4.7 million passengers using the Corus KLCC bus hub, excluding the pandemic years,” Law said.
He reflected on the challenges of COVID-19, noting that despite the impact on both the luxury bus and hospitality sectors, Hotel Corus management continued to support the company.
“We became a family. That was when we realised it is possible to have a family beyond our own family,” he added.
Mui Pel Loh, Senior Vice President of MUI Group, highlighted the practical benefits of the partnership.
“Of the 4.7 million passengers using the mini-hotel bus hub, an average of 20 percent stayed at the hotel. The collaboration between Corus and Aeroline made life significantly easier for both passengers and hotel guests. It was a winning formula for Zulco, Corus, and our guests.”
Mui recalled that the group was initially hesitant about the collaboration but eventually embraced it after reviewing the management team.
The partnership was symbolised by a mascot, an executive-clad man running with a briefcase, reflecting the values of punctuality, comfort, and quality service that Aeroline upheld.
“As advertised, they brought this concept through high-quality service, comfortable products, perfect timing, and exemplary service that others later emulated. Aeroline calls its drivers ‘bus captains,’ just as airlines refer to pilots as captains.
Today, other services follow this model, ensuring that passengers are delivered to the front door with nine arrivals and departures daily, seven days a week,” Mui said.
With the closure of Hotel Corus KLCC today, Aeroline embarks on a new chapter, bidding farewell to a venue that served as a cornerstone of its operations for more than two decades and shaped the travel experience of millions of regional and international passengers. - January 18, 2026
