Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (May 11): Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) handled 16.9% more passengers at the 39 airports it manages in the country in April 2017 — the highest increase since February 2014.

Passenger traffic grew to 8.17 million, from 6.98 million in the same month last year.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, the airport operator said including MAHB’s operations in Turkey — the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SGIA) — it saw a 14.7% increase in passenger numbers to 10.74 million in April 2017, from 9.36 million a year ago. SGIA passengers grew by 8.1% in April 2017 to 2.57 million passengers, compared with 2.38 million passengers a year ago.

On the local front, the international segment at the 39 airports MAHB manages in Malaysia saw a 20.2% increase to 4.1 million in April 2017, from 3.41 million a year ago, while domestic passengers rose 13.7% to 4.06 million, from 3.57 million.

Overall aircraft movements also increased by 5.5% year-on-year in April 2017.

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang registered a strong growth of 20.5% to 4.98 million passengers in April 2017, from 4.13 million passengers in April 2016, with international and domestic passengers registering growth of 20.9% and 19.6% respectively.

KLIA's main terminal saw a 24.6% increase in passenger traffic to 2.44 million in April 2017, from 1.96 million in April 2016, while klia2's passenger traffic rose 16.8% to 2.54 million, from 2.17 million.

MAHB said the higher passenger traffic growth in April 2017 was registered at 18 of 21 international and domestic airports in Malaysia, with 11 airports posting double-digit growth.

"All regions, with the exception of Africa, registered a high double-digit growth between 13% and 30% for April 2017. Passenger traffic to and from 21 countries recorded more than 20% growth, including Maldives, Laos, Ethiopia, the UK, Australia, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Oman, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Japan and Vietnam," it said.

"Twenty seven airlines registered double-digit growth for international passenger traffic. They include AirAsia X, All Nippon Airways, Malindo Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Malaysia Airlines. The domestic passenger growth was mainly contributed by Malindo Air and AirAsia," it added. 

On a year-to-date basis, MAHB's total system of airports (including SGIA) registered a 9.8% growth, with 40.87 million passengers, compared with 37.24 million passengers a year ago.

Overall aircraft movements also rose 2.8%, with international and domestic movements registering a growth of 3.9% and 2.1% respectively, over April 2016.

"Year-to-date growth is encouraging and the numbers indicate that Malaysia’s air traffic is indeed at a new level of growth. Among others, this growth has been contributed by visa relaxation for India and China, new travellers, Umrah travel, competitive fares, as well as favourable exchange rate for foreign tourists.

"In addition, there is significant increase in airlines’ seat capacity to accommodate the increasing demand for air travel," said MAHB. 

MAHB shares closed 2 sen or 0.2% lower at RM8.08 today, bringing it to a market capitalisation of RM13.4 billion.  

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