Category: Airports

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Malaysia Airports Handles 153.3 Million Passengers in 2025 as Visit Malaysia 2026 Begins

Passenger traffic across the Malaysia Airports Group’s global network reached 153.3 million passengers in 2025, highlighting strong travel momentum as Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) gets underway.

Strong growth across Malaysia’s airport network

Within Malaysia, the Group’s network of 39 airports handled a total of 104.4 million passengers during the year, representing an 11.2% year-on-year increase. Growth was supported by rising demand across both domestic and international travel segments.

December 2025 was the busiest operational month of the year, with 10 million passengers handled nationwide, a 15.5% increase compared to the same month in 2024. The festive peak between Christmas and New Year saw more than one million passengers processed over a concentrated three-day period, with operations remaining stable throughout.

Key airports record solid passenger gains

KL International Airport (KLIA) handled 6.1 million passengers in December, bringing its full-year total to 63.3 million passengers, up 10.8% year-on-year.

Other major airports also recorded strong growth during the month. Subang Airport (SZB) posted the highest month-on-month increase at 34.4%, rising to 191,000 passengers. Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) grew 23.5% to 802,000 passengers, Langkawi (LGK) increased 23% to 290,000 passengers, Penang (PEN) rose 12.2% to 772,000 passengers, while Kuching (KCH) recorded a 10.3% increase to 540,000 passengers.

New routes and airline partners boost connectivity

Passenger growth was supported by continued network expansion, with new airline partners and destinations added across Malaysia’s airport network. At KLIA, several new services were launched in December 2025, strengthening international and regional connectivity.

These included Xiamen Airlines’ thrice-weekly Hangzhou – Kuala Lumpur service and 9 Air’s three weekly flights from Hangzhou, both operating at KLIA Terminal 2. Hainan Airlines also introduced a twice-weekly Qionghai – Kuala Lumpur route.

Batik Air Malaysia expanded its network with six new services, including routes to Osaka (Kansai), Singapore from Ipoh, Subang and Penang, Kuala Namu, and Jakarta. Meanwhile, Firefly launched five weekly flights to Cebu, and Sichuan Airlines introduced three weekly services between Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur.

International operations in Türkiye

Beyond Malaysia, the Group’s international asset at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Türkiye handled 49.0 million passengers in 2025, marking a 17.5% year-on-year increase. In December alone, the airport processed 4.2 million passengers.

Focus on resilience ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026

As travel activity continues to build through Visit Malaysia 2026, Malaysia Airports remains focused on strengthening service resilience, enhancing capacity readiness and advancing partnership-led growth across its airport network.

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New Airline Routes Boost Malaysia’s Connectivity Ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026

Airline confidence in Malaysia’s aviation market remained strong in November and December 2025, with multiple carriers launching new routes across the Malaysia Airports network, further strengthening the country’s position as a key aviation hub in Southeast Asia.

New international and regional routes launched

Several airlines expanded their networks with new services to and within Malaysia. Spring Airlines launched flights from Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur, followed by Xiamen Airlines introducing services from Hangzhou to Kuala Lumpur.

9 Air commenced flights linking Haikou with Kuching and Penang, while Hong Kong Express launched a new route connecting Hong Kong and Kota Kinabalu. TransNusa began operating flights between Jakarta and Penang, and Loong Air operated charter services from Shenzhen to Kuching.

Batik Air Malaysia further expanded its network with new services from Subang to Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Namu, Kansai, Langkawi and Johor Bahru, as well as flights from Singapore to Ipoh and Penang, and a new international route between Tashkent and Langkawi.

Passenger traffic reflects growing demand

The expansion of airline networks was reflected in passenger traffic performance across Malaysia Airports. In November 2025, the local airport network recorded 8.7 million passenger movements, comprising 4.7 million international and 4.0 million domestic travellers.

KL International Airport (KLIA) handled 5.5 million passengers during the month, representing a 1% increase compared to October 2025. Including Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, total passenger movements across the Group reached 12.9 million in November.

Preparing for higher travel volumes

Malaysia Airports continues to focus on expanding air connectivity while improving airport efficiency in preparation for higher travel demand ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026. Close coordination with airline partners remains central to optimising schedules, managing capacity and ensuring smooth passenger flows.

Travel advice for peak periods

With school holidays and festive celebrations approaching, passengers are advised to allow extra time for check-in, security screening and baggage drop-off. Travellers using airport drop-off and pick-up zones should observe the 10-minute kerbside grace period.

Passengers are encouraged to use the MYAirports app for real-time flight updates and airport navigation, check travel documents and visa requirements in advance, and plan ahead for ground transportation, parking and boarding during peak travel periods.

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Malaysia Airports Records 12.8 Million Passengers in October 2025

Passenger traffic across the Malaysia Airports Group continued to grow in October 2025, with total passenger movements reaching 12.8 million across its Malaysian airport network and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (ISG).

Passenger growth across Malaysia and Türkiye

Of the total passenger volume, 8.8 million passengers, or 69%, were handled by airports in Malaysia. This included 4.6 million international and 4.2 million domestic passengers. ISG accounted for the remaining 4.0 million passengers during the month.

Year-to-date passenger movements reached 125.7 million, representing an 11.8% increase compared to the same period last year, when 112.5 million passengers were recorded.

KLIA traffic rises with service upgrades

KL International Airport (KLIA), Malaysia’s main aviation gateway, recorded 5.4 million passenger movements in October, up from 5.3 million in September.

To support rising traffic levels, KLIA has introduced several passenger experience initiatives across both terminals. These include improved kerbside traffic flow, enhanced wayfinding, and refreshed passenger touchpoints. Measures such as the rollout of the Vehicle Access Management System (VAMS) at kerbside areas and the refurbishment of boarding lounges at Terminal 2 into open-concept spaces aim to deliver a smoother airport experience.

New routes strengthen international connectivity

International connectivity was further strengthened in October with Scoot Airlines launching two weekly flights between Singapore and Kota Bharu. The new service improves regional access and supports tourism development along Malaysia’s East Coast.

Preparing for year-end peak travel

As passenger movements continue to gain momentum heading into the year-end peak, Malaysia Airports is working closely with airline partners and key stakeholders to ensure schedule resilience, effective resource planning and smooth peak-season operations.

These efforts include aligning terminal operations, strengthening on-ground support and maintaining readiness across the network as travel demand increases ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.

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Hainan Airlines Launches Direct Kuala Lumpur – Haikou Flights at KLIA

KL International Airport (KLIA) has marked a new connectivity milestone with the launch of Hainan Airlines’ inaugural direct service between Kuala Lumpur and Haikou, further strengthening air links between Malaysia and China.

New four-times-weekly service

The direct Kuala Lumpur – Haikou flight commenced on 30 May 2025 and operates four times weekly. The route supports Malaysia Airports’ strategy to expand connectivity with China, one of its key growth markets for trade, tourism and long-term network development.

Expanded access across China and beyond

The new service provides Malaysian travellers with faster access to Hainan, while also enabling convenient onward connections via Haikou to more than 50 cities across China.

International connections via Haikou include major destinations such as London, Bangkok, Tokyo and Hong Kong. The city is also emerging as a strategic transit gateway between China and the Middle East, with onward connections to cities including Dubai and Jeddah.

Strengthening KLIA’s role as a regional gateway

Malaysia Airports highlighted that the route expansion reinforces KLIA’s role in driving connectivity-led growth by improving accessibility between Malaysia and key international markets.

The Kuala Lumpur – Haikou route is expected to support tourism flows, business travel and economic exchange between Malaysia, China and onward destinations.

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