SEPANG- For 3Q24, Malaysia Airports (the Group) recorded a total of 36.1 million passenger movements, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.6% compared to 32.6 million passengers in 3Q23. This performance is nearing pre-pandemic levels, reaching 97.7% of the passenger traffic recorded during the same period in 2019. Notably, international passenger numbers have surpassed 3Q19 levels by 7.4%, with 18.9 million passengers. In contrast, the domestic sector experienced more modest growth, recording 17.2 million passengers and achieving 88.9% of the levels recorded in 2019. The improved traffic performance was largely driven by international passenger movements, the introduction of new airlines and routes, visa exemptions for travelers from China and India, and the steady increase in air travel demand.
The Group’s network of local airports demonstrated encouraging performance in 3Q24, with international passenger movements consistently surpassing 4 million each month. In September 2024, international passenger numbers hit 99.3% of 2019 levels. Overall, total passenger movements at the airports in Malaysia for 3Q24 reached 24.8 million, representing 92.3% of the levels recorded in 2019.
This growth on the local front was primarily driven by several factors, including the introduction of five new airlines—9 Air (AQ), Air India (AI), AirAsia Cambodia (KT), Lucky Air (8L), and Qingdao Airlines (QW), along with the addition of 197 weekly flight frequencies compared to 2024. The extension of the 30-day visa-free entry for visitors from Mainland China until December 2025 also led to a significant increase in passenger numbers, with weekly flight frequencies exceeding 3Q19 levels by 24.8%. The India sector rebounded to 90% of 2019 levels, further highlighting an increase in travel demand.
September 2024 saw AirAsia (AK) expand operations from KL International Airport (KUL) to Labuan Bajo Komodo Airport (LBJ) and Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (LKO), as well as from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) to Manado International Airport (MDC) and Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG). Additionally, Batik Air Malaysia (OD) launched daily flights to Hatyai International Airport (HDY) and Krabi International Airport (KBV), while Malaysia Airlines (MH) commenced daily flights to Da Nang International Airport (DAD). Subang Airport (SZB) welcomed Scoot (TR), which launched daily flights on 1 September 2024. This new service contributed to a 42.5% increase in international passenger movements at SZB for September 2024 compared to the previous month, which saw the resumption of jet operations.
Meanwhile, the Group’s Türkish asset, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) recorded 11.3 million passengers in 3Q24, a 12.0% increase over the same period in 2019. This growth was driven by international passenger movements, with 1.9 million passengers in September, up 43.7% from 2019 levels. New routes by Pegasus Airlines (PC) to Isfahan Shahid Beheshti International Airport (IFN) and Shiraz International Airport (SYZ) in Iran, and Sevi le Airport (SVQ), Spain, further enhanced SAW’s connectivity. Domestic passenger movements reached 5.4 million, up 2.7% from the previous quarter.
Passenger movements are expected to remain robust, fueled by network expansion and seasonal demand.