A Comparative Study Evaluating Muslim-Friendly Compliant Standards: Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport Vs. Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA)

The airport's role is not just about logistics but about providing a welcoming and seamless experience that aligns with the principles of Muslim-friendly tourism. This comparative study evaluates the extent to which Subang Airport and Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) adhere to Muslim-friendly compliant standards. As key aviation hubs in Southeast Asia, these airports serve a significant number of Muslim travellers, making their facilities and services a critical component of the Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem. While Malaysia's MAVCOM Quality of Service (QoS) Framework already considers aspects of passenger comfort and facilities, such as cleanliness and wayfinding, there is a gap in explicitly assessing the provision of dedicated Muslim-friendly services. This paper aims to bridge this gap by comparing both airports against a set of established Muslim-friendly key areas, including i) Food (Halal), ii) Prayer Facilities, and iii) Services, which include the availability of information on local halal dining and prayer facilities, as well as staff awareness and training to assist Muslim guests.