SEPANG – KL International Airport (KLIA) secured a spot among the world’s top 10 airports in the 2024 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey for airports handling over 40 million passengers annually. Achieving a near-perfect score of 4.99 out of 5 from Airports Council International (ACI), this recognition validates KLIA’s ongoing efforts and commitment towards service excellence and operational efficiency. 

ASQ serves as the leading, data-driven benchmark for airport excellence, measuring passenger satisfaction across key areas such as safety, services, facilities, and cleanliness, reinforcing KLIA’s position as a leading global aviation hub. 

Several key elements contributed to KLIA’s success, all designed to enhance passenger comfort and convenience. These include a welcoming ambience, expanded seating area, upgraded charging stations, and fast and reliable Wi-Fi. Passengers also rated highly the airport's exceptional cleanliness, particularly in its washrooms which further enhances the travelling experience.

Beyond its amenities, KLIA’s dedicated staff have also been praised for their warmth and attentiveness, further showcasing Malaysia's hospitality at its best. 

Malaysia Airports Managing Director, Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, highlighted KLIA’s consistent placement in the ASQ top 10 airports since 2022 as a testament to the airport’s commitment to continuous improvement, “KLIA's strong performance reflects our focus on enhancing airport experience through innovative solutions and improved facilities. We also thank KLIA's dedicated airport community and stakeholders who are the driving force behind our progress.” 

“With our new shareholders placing strong emphasis on service excellence, we are confident these efforts will further elevate our standing in future global rankings.” 

In preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, KLIA is undergoing key upgrades to further improve passenger experience. These include expanded terminal seating, refurbished prayer rooms, and next-generation baggage trolleys. Passengers can also look forward to improved buggy services, self-service check-in and bag drop kiosks, and new family-friendly features such as the Orangutan Playground Kids Zone, wheelchairs, baby strollers, heritage walls, and family parking lots.

With a renewed focus on innovation and service excellence, KLIA is committed to strengthening its position as one of the world's top airports.

SEPANG – Langkawi International Airport (LGK) has once again been named Best Airport in Asia Pacific (2-5 Million Passengers) at the 2024 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards by Airports Council International (ACI). Marking its fourth consecutive win, this achievement reflects Malaysia Airports’ dedication to service excellence and continuous growth, further solidifying its role as a key aviation hub in the region. 

The ASQ Awards, based on real-time passenger feedback, assess crucial aspects of the airport experience, including efficiency, cleanliness, comfort, and overall service quality. LGK’s consistent success reflects Malaysia Airports’ strategic efforts to optimise passenger experience, accelerate digital transformation and uphold world-class standards. 

Malaysia Airports Managing Director, Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, attributed the achievement to the organisation's dedication to continuous improvement, "This award reaffirms our commitment to creating exceptional airport experiences at key gateways such as LGK, which plays a vital role in driving Malaysia’s tourism and economic growth. As a UNESCO Global Geopark and premier travel destination, Langkawi attracts millions of visitors, supported by strong air connectivity and government initiatives. We will continue investing in facility upgrades, digital innovations, and strategic partnerships to further enhance service excellence and strengthen Malaysia’s aviation landscape."

Recognising LGK’s outstanding commitment to passenger satisfaction, ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci remarked, “Congratulations to the entire team at LGK for your remarkable achievement in the ASQ Awards! Your airport is one of the best airports globally for customer experience—as chosen by passengers themselves. Keep raising the standards!”

In 2024, Langkawi International Airport (LGK) recorded 2.5 million total passenger movements, reflecting a 1.8% increase from 2023. This growth was largely driven by a 27.9% surge in international passenger traffic, which rose to 280,601 passengers. At present, LGK serves 8 airlines operating 198 scheduled flights per week.

Dato’ Mohd Izani further added, “Looking ahead, LGK is poised to further expand its connectivity by leveraging the extensive global presence of Malaysia Airports’ new shareholders. This enhanced network potential positions LGK to attract new airline partners and unlock additional travel markets, ultimately reinforcing the island's status as a premier travel destination.”

Through continued investments and collaboration, Malaysia Airports remains committed to strengthening the airport's role as a pivotal gateway to Malaysia’s thriving tourism sector.

SEPANG – Malaysia Airports is taking yet another step towards sustainable airport operations with a state-of-the-art water treatment facility at KL International Airport (KLIA). Developed as part of the organisation’s Environmental Roadmap, this initiative highlights its dedication to responsible water management, flood prevention, and ecological conservation. 

The KLIA water treatment plant features a vertical compact system, reducing land usage by 50% compared to traditional designs. It is equipped with advanced purification technology and processes up to 10 million liters of water per day (MLD), ensuring KLIA has an eco-friendly water source to support its operations.

 This project is driven by Malaysia Airports’ Recycling Rainwater Harvested from KLIA Catchment Area Initiative, covering 200 acres with a depth of 1.5 meters and a total capacity of 3,000 liters. The rainwater collection system is a dual-purpose powerhouse, supplying the treatment facility and serving as a flood mitigation measure. The impact goes beyond KLIA, providing major benefits to nearby communities and the Southern Balancing Pond area. Through efficient resource management, Malaysia Airports reduces energy use related to distribution and promotes long-term sustainability. 

The cutting-edge treatment plant further strengthens KLIA’s environmental leadership under Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program. Holding a Level 3 Optimisation status, KLIA is part of a global network of over 600 airports progressing toward net-zero carbon emissions through ACI’s structured 7-level carbon management framework. 

This latest facility strengthens the airport's commitment to sustainability, supporting Malaysia Airports’ efforts to enhance environmental management and resilience.

SEPANG – Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB or the Group) held our last Board meeting as a Bursa Malaysia-listed company yesterday. This marks the end of a 25-year journey as a public-listed company that began in November 1999 when it debuted at RM2.50 per share. The offer by the Gateway Development Alliance (GDA) consortium to privatise MAHB was recently concluded at RM11.00 per share. This reflected a compounded average growth rate (CAGR) of over 6% in share price over the 25 years. The company has also distributed a total of RM2.806 billion of dividends up to 2023.  

With the impending delisting of MAHB from Bursa Malaysia, all Independent Non-Executive Directors (INED) tendered their resignations, which will be effective on the date of delisting. They are: Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Dato’ Ir Haji Mohamad Husin; and Independent Non-Executive Directors Mr Ramanathan Sathiamutty; Madam Cheryl Khor Hui Peng; Dato’ Seri Ir Koe Peng Kang; and Mr Chris Chia Woon Liat. Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, Tan Sri Datuk Zainun Ali, who had previously served as Chairman of the Board, has also tendered her resignation following the conclusion of her tenure as a Ministry of Finance (Incorporated)’s [MOF Inc.] nominee on the 16th of February 2025.  

I would like to personally thank all of them for their services to the company. They have conducted themselves professionally and upheld the highest standards of governance throughout the time they served on the Board. They brought to the company their individual talent and experiences that have benefited the company. 

As we end this phase of the MAHB journey, I would also like to thank the management, staff and the three unions within the MAHB Group for their dedication to the Group.  

The performance of the last two years reflected a strong rebound from the setbacks triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Notably, MAHB signed new Operating Agreements (OA) and Lease Agreements (LA) with the Government of Malaysia in March 2024 to manage 39 airports and STOLports. The new agreements lengthen the operating period to 2069, and provide clarity on how MAHB could recover its capital expenditure on airports. The Group subsequently embarked on the expansion of both Penang and Kota Kinabalu International Airports.  


MAHB remains a AAA-rated company by RAM Ratings and A3 by Moody’s, enabling it to raise funding at very competitive rates from the capital market. MAHB also secured a 99-year lease for KLIA Aeropolis in November 2022 under the Development Agreement (DA). The DA and LA allow MAHB to further catalyse economic development via off-terminal related aviation and commercial related projects. 

At the Group level, we closed 2024 with 135 million passengers recorded. The Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISG) closed the year above a record 41 million passengers, and with a 20% increase in cargo tonnage. It added 16 new destinations and now serves a total of 141 destinations in 51 countries. The Malaysian operations saw a 15% growth in passengers, and 12 new airlines flying into the country with existing airlines adding 75 new routes. Malaysia is now linked to 124 international destinations via our hub, KL International Airport (KLIA) and our four other international airports. Non-aeronautical revenues grew faster than aeronautical revenues in 2024 and contributed to 45% of total revenue. Our airports in Malaysia are close to 90% retail occupancy, ahead of pre-pandemic levels. The Aerotrain project at KLIA is in progress, and undergoing extensive testing ahead of its operational date in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 2025).  

For the 9 months ended 30 September 2024, we reported a revenue of RM4.3 billion and profit after tax (PAT) of over RM600 million. As a testament to our strong financial performance, we have again been recognised by The Edge Billion Ringgit Club in 2024 as achieving Highest Returns to Shareholders Over Three Years. On the operations side, Langkawi International Airport won the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for Best Airport (2 to 5 million passengers per annum) in Asia-Pacific for the third year in a row, Centre For Aviation (CAPA) awarded KLIA the Large Airport of the Year 2024 award, and OAG Megahubs recognised KLIA as the Number One LCC Hub in 2024. 

On the sustainability front, Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu International Airports obtained Level 1 Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) by Airports Council International (ACI), for which KLIA has already achieved Level 3. Meanwhile, both Penang and Kota Kinabalu International Airports will be expanded as green airports, with Penang having the first remote digital virtual tower in the region. 

I am indeed privileged to be with the Board, management and staff on this journey. 

MAHB started out as a Government agency under the purview of the Ministry of Transport, then a corporatised entity and eventually a public-listed company. The impending delisting and privatisation will see MAHB emerge as a single shareholder company, owned 100% by GDA, with the Government remaining a Special Shareholder. 

The new shareholders - Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the Employees Provident Fund and Global Infrastructure Partners – will now be collectively responsible for the well-being of the company, the welfare of its staff and the overall development of the aviation sector in Malaysia more generally. I expect them to bring MAHB to greater heights while fulfilling the obligations of the OA here in Malaysia and the concession agreement at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.