Among the 12 new airlines were Air Macau, Iraqi Airways, Turkmenistan Airlines, Cambodia Airways, Qingdao Airlines, AirAsia Cambodia, Loong Air and Air India, all operating from KLIA. New destinations connected to KLIA in 2024 include Almaty, Ashgabat, Baghdad, Chiang Rai, Lam Dong, Labuan Bajo, Jaipur, Nairobi, Nanjing, and Vientiane, among others. Overall, 73 foreign carriers and 6 local carriers (excluding freighters) now operate flights to 138 international and 31 domestic destinations within the Malaysia Airports network, reflecting the continuous growth of the nation’s aviation sector.
According to the Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, “The encouraging performance in 2024 highlights the collaborative efforts of Malaysia Airports, airline partners, government agencies, and the tourism industry in positioning Malaysia as a premier destination. The addition of new airlines and destinations reflects growing confidence in Malaysia as a hub for tourism and business travel. Looking ahead to 2025, we aim to further enhance connectivity with the introduction of more than 10 new airlines, focusing on key markets in Asia and Europe. This strategy will help drive traffic growth as we prepare for Visit Malaysia 2026, reaffirming our commitment to connecting the nation to the world and delivering seamless travel experiences."
In 2024, Malaysia Airports’ network, including Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISGA), recorded over 135 million passenger movements, achieving 96.1% of 2019 levels. Within Malaysia, airports handled 93.8 million passengers, reaching 89.1% of pre-pandemic levels. International traffic continued its upward trend with 49.6 million passengers, or 93.1% of 2019 figures, despite challenges such as delayed aircraft deliveries and disruptions in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. The domestic sector also remained stable, recording 44.2 million passengers, or 85.1% of pre-pandemic levels. For December 2024, passenger traffic at local airports totalled 8.5 million (4.7 million international and 3.8 million domestic), marking an 11% increase from the previous month, driven by school holidays and festive travel.
ISGA continued its growth trajectory in 2024, welcoming 41.9 million passengers—an 16.7% increase from 2019. International travel was a major contributor, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 55.8% with 22.2 million passengers. Domestic traffic recorded 19.8 million, reaching 91.1% of 2019 levels. In December 2024, the airport recorded 3.6 million passengers, reflecting a 3.4% increase from the previous month, with 2 million international and 1.6 million domestic passengers.
Tags: Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, Malaysia Airports, KL International Airport (KLIA), airlines
