Malaysia Airports’ local network continues growth, with new routes

Malaysia Airports’ local network continues to expand as travel demand continues to show resilience. This is seen across the network, with festival travel, new airlines and new routes showing continued growth in Q1. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) alone, recorded 16.9 million passenger movements, a 14.4% increase year-on-year, contributing 5.6 million with over 3.1 million passengers travelling through KLIA during the Hari Raya Aidilfi period from 14th to 29th March.

Other airports in the local network also performed well

Penang International Airport (PEN) saw an 11% rise in international passenger numbers in March, going from 371,601 in February to 412,958 and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) recorded a 2% increase in domestic passenger movement, climbing from 541,248 in February to 551,049. This contributed to a total passenger movement of 27.4 million across the local network for the first quarter.

…. Growth across the network continues to be driven by expanding connectivity and the increasing relevance of our airports as regional gateways. Our priority is to match this momentum with the right capacity, seamless operations, and targeted improvements on the ground, ensuring we remain competitive while unlocking further growth opportunities for Malaysia.Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, Malaysia Airports MD

Across the network, continuous facility upgrades are improving both passenger comfort and operational efficiency. At KLIA Terminal 1, moving through the airport has been improved with the on-going installation of self bag-drop facilities and much more efficient arrival and departure processes for international travellers at a number of airports in the network. The shopping experience is also much more vibrant and more restaurants are available. Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), Malaysia Airlines passengers can now benefit from early baggage drop-off for a smoother, more convenient pre-departure experience.

Other regional airports are also seeing targeted improvements, with Langkawi (LGK) and Kuching (KCH) introducing upgraded baby care rooms. Alor Star (AOR), Kuantan (KUA), Labuan (LBU) and Lahad Datu (LDU) now welcome passengers with refreshed check-in counters.

Improved connectivity with new airlines, new routes

Connectivity across the network continues to expand, with three new international airlines joining during March. Travellers can fly to Timor Leste with AeroDili and northern Africa opens up with flights from Air Algerie to Algeria. Chongqing Airlines will carry you to one of the most fascinating entry points in China.

New routes have been introduced across key gateways, including Nanjing–Kuala Lumpur, Wuxi–Kuala Lumpur, Batam–Kuala Lumpur, Guiyang–Kuala Lumpur, Colombo–Kuala Lumpur, and Yangzhou–Kuala Lumpur. Flights between Chongqing–Kota Kinabalu, Phuket–Penang and  Guiyang–Kuching are also now on the Arrival/Departure boards. Penang travellers will now see Qingdao–Penang as a new route to the airport, strengthening its direct connectivity to China while complementing existing services within the Malaysia network.

Increases are not only confined to Malaysia. Malaysia Airports’ wholly owned international subsidiary, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISGIA) registered 11.7 million passengers for the first quarter of the year, representing an increase of 12% over the corresponding period last year.

It remains to be seen if this encouraging situation can be sustained in the current world situation, with shortages of jet fuel proving challenging to airlines and fuel surcharges giving pain to potential travellers.