The Malaysia Airports Group has achieved notable success in passenger traffic for July 2024, marking a significant record in the aviation industry’s recovery.
For the first time since 2020, the Group’s monthly passenger traffic, including its Turkish asset, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), surpassed 12 million passengers.
Record-Breaking Numbers
The Group’s total passenger movements for July reached an impressive 12.4 million, representing a 7.3% increase from June 2024. This growth was primarily driven by local airports, which recorded over 8 million passengers – a new monthly record since the pandemic began.
Breaking down the numbers, local airports saw 8.5 million passengers, with 4.5 million international travelers and 4.0 million domestic passengers. This figure represents an 8% rise from the previous month.
Leadership Comments
Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, expressed his satisfaction with these results. He emphasized the importance of collaboration.
“Together with our airport community and partners, we are committed to sustaining this growth trajectory through continuous improvements in passenger experience, connectivity, infrastructure and operational excellence.”
Domestic and International Growth
On the local front, international passenger movements increased by 11%, while domestic movements grew by 5% compared to June 2024.
Key markets such as Indonesia, China, and Singapore continued to dominate in July. The addition of Qingdao Airlines and increased frequencies by airlines to and from China and Indonesia contributed to a total seat capacity recovery of 85.8%.
Expanded Airline Services
Several airlines expanded their services, boosting connectivity and capacity:
AirAsia introduced thrice-weekly flights from KL International Airport to Sihanoukville Airport, Cambodia.
China Eastern Airlines launched new flights to Yantai Penglai International Airport and commenced daily services to Changsha Huanghua and Nanjing Lukou International Airports.
Batik Air Malaysia started twice-weekly flights from KUL to Lombok International Airport.
Firefly added four weekly flights from Tawau Airport to Chengdu Shuangliu and Macau International Airports.
Shenzhen Airlines commenced thrice-weekly flights from Penang International Airport to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.
Middle East Boost
The Middle East region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, saw a rise in passenger movements in July, driven by the Hajj season.
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) Performance
SAW reported a record 3.9 million passenger movements in July 2024, marking a 6% increase from the previous month.
The summer holiday season, along with new routes and additional flight frequencies, contributed to a new annual high in international passenger movements, reaching nearly 2.0 million – a 9% increase over June 2024. Domestic passenger movements also grew to 1.9 million, up 3% from the previous month.
SAW’s Expanded Connectivity
SAW’s connectivity expanded further with so notable airline initiatives. AJet introducing a new route to Skopje International Airport, Macedonia, with four weekly flights.
Pegasus Airlines launching a new route to Mashhad International Airport, Iran, with a twice-weekly frequency. Pegasus also increasing its flights to Dortmund Airport, Germany, from five to seven times a week.
The Turkish carrier will also be resuming service to Podgorica Airport, Montenegro, with three weekly flights.
Overall
These impressive figures and expanded services demonstrate the Malaysia Airports Group’s strong recovery and growth in the post-pandemic era. With continued focus on improving passenger experience and expanding connectivity, the Group is well-positioned for sustained success in the aviation industry.
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