KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd reported a fourth quarter net profit of RM33.32 million from a net loss of RM39.84 million a year earlier as its Malaysian operations recorded higher income.

Malaysia Airports told Bursa Malaysia today group revenue rose to RM1.08 billion from RM1.04 billion.

"The increase in airport operations revenue in Malaysia was mainly attributed to the increase in aeronautical revenue. Aeronautical revenue increased by 7.6% or RM29.2 million (Q4 2016: RM412.9 million; Q4 2015: RM383.7 million).

"This improvement was driven by higher PSC (passenger service charge) and PSSC (passenger security service charge) revenue by 16% or RM36.7 million and higher MARCS PSC by 23.2% or RM5.1 million owing to higher passenger growth, more point to point passenger traffic, consolidation of operations at Kota Kinabalu International Airport as well as the relocation of Malindo to KLIA-Main Terminal," Malaysia Airports said.

MARCS PSC stands for marginal cost support for passenger service charge.

For the full-year, Malaysia Airports said net profit rose to RM70.39 million from RM40.9 million a year earlier while revenue climbed to RM4.17 billion from RM3.87 billion.

The group proposed a final single-tier dividend of six sen a share for the year.

Going forward, Malaysia Airports expects passenger traffic in Malaysia to grow 6.5% on year in 2017 compared to 6.1% in 2016. The group said the 2017 growth forecast was based on the "economic conditions and airlines' confidence" as reflected in seat-capacity increases.

In 2016, Malaysia Airports said passenger traffic at its airports across Malaysia rose to 89 million from 83.8 million passengers.