MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has reported a 12.2 per cent year-on-year increase in total passenger movements across its network for the third quarter of 2025 (Q3 2025), fuelled by the introduction of new routes and the entry of additional airlines.
Total passenger movements rose to 40.6 million in Q3 2025, up from 36.2 million during the same period last year. Passenger numbers at airports in Malaysia alone climbed 8.1 per cent to 26.9 million, compared to 24.9 million in Q3 2024.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the country’s primary aviation hub, handled 16.3 million passengers in the quarter — a 7.75 per cent increase year-on-year, or approximately 1.2 million additional passengers.
Managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani credited the strong growth to MAHB’s strategic focus on route expansion and global airline engagement.
“Eight new airlines have commenced operations in Malaysia this year, further strengthening the nation's global air connectivity,” he said in a statement.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to support Visit Malaysia 2026, we continue to expand new routes and forge airline partnerships across key markets in Asean, South Asia, Northeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Southwest Pacific.
“These efforts reaffirm our commitment to positioning Malaysia as the regional aviation hub of choice, connecting more people and destinations while continuously enhancing the passenger experience and operational excellence,” he added.
Two new airlines joined the Malaysian market in Q3 alone, bringing the total number of carriers operating in the country to 75. Notable new entrants include Jiangxi Air with its Nanchang–Kuala Lumpur service and Hong Kong Express, which began operating flights between Hong Kong and Subang.
A total of 12 new routes were introduced in the quarter, including China Eastern Airlines’ Taiyuan-Wuhan-Kuala Lumpur route, further boosting Malaysia’s air connectivity.
MAHB’s overseas operations also saw significant growth, particularly at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, which recorded a 21.2 per cent increase in passenger movements — rising from 11.3 million in Q3 2024 to 13.7 million in Q3 2025.
The majority of that growth came from international traffic, which surged by 26.1 per cent to 7.4 million passengers, up from 5.9 million in the same quarter last year. - October 21, 2025
