KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 17): The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) recorded the highest passenger traffic growth in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region in November last year with a rate in excess of 25%, according to the Airports Council International (ACI).

Releasing the results on Jan 16, the ACI said preliminary passenger traffic results for the month of November 2014 released by showed continued moderate growth from last year in APAC airports +6.0% and Middle East airports +6.1%.

It said majority of the airports in both APAC and the Middle East reported positive growth for the month.

Bangkok Don Muang (DMK) topped the list recorded the highest growth rate (+48.8%) among all reporting airports.

The ACI said the growth was supported by vibrant growth in both domestic and international passenger traffic.

It said that in India, three airports generating high growth rate in excess of 20%: Cochin (COK) +26.9%, Hyderabad (HYD) +21.9%, and Bangalore (BLR) +20.2%.

The ACI said growth in the Middle East continued to be led by the following airports reporting double digit growth: Abu Dhabi (AUH) +15.6%, Dubai World Central (DWC) +15.4%, Kuwait (KWI) +12.9%, and Doha (DOH) +11%.
 
In terms of freight traffic for the month, the ACI said Asia-Pacific maintained a steady growth rate at +4.7% from last year.

It said the Middle East continued to record high growth of +12.8% with Dubai World Central (DWC) +301.9% and Abu Dhabi (AUH) +13.8% leading the region.

“Among Asia-Pacific airports, Kuala Lumpur (+27.5%) reported the highest growth in excess of 25%,” it said.
 
The ACI said for the year to end of November, passenger traffic in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East recorded a year-on-year increase of +5.0% and +8.6% respectively.

“Year-to-date growth in freight volume was +5.7% for the Asia-Pacific and +12.4% for the Middle East,” it said.