KUALA LUMPUR (April 11): The number of passengers passing through the 39 airports in the country that Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) manages, fell by 0.8% to 7.25 million in March this year, from 7.3 million a year ago, partly due to Malaysia Airlines Bhd's route rationalisation.

The KL International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang handled 0.9% more passengers at 4.26 million in March 2016, from 4.23 million in March 2015. However, the improved March 2016 numbers were dragged down by the other MAHB airports, which saw a 3.1% decline to 2.98 million, from 3.08 million.

In a statement today, MAHB said KLIA Main Terminal traffic declined by 8.8%, offset by a 10.5% increase in klia2 traffic.

It also attributed the negative 0.8% growth for airports in Malaysia, partly to double-digit frequencies cut by Malaysia Airlines, as well as the relatively high number recorded for March 2015.

"In addition, events such as Formula 1 which used to take place in March and contributed to the traffic numbers, has been shifted to the second half of 2016," it said.

MAHB also said international passenger numbers into its airports grew 2.1% to 3.49 million in March 2016, from 3.41 million in March 2015; while domestic passenger movements dropped 3.3% to 3.76 million, from 3.89 million.

"The international growth was contributed mainly by double-digit growth at Penang and Kota Kinabalu airports, and also at Langkawi airport," it added.

For the January-March 2016 period, there were 21.1 million passengers passing through MAHB airports, up 3.4% from 20.41 million a year ago.

Of this total, handled numbers of international passengers grew 6% to 10.41 million, from 9.83 million in the first quarter of 2015; while domestic passengers saw a marginal growth of 1% to 10.68 million, from 10.58 million.

Including MAHB's Istanbul airport Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, MAHB handled 2.7% more passengers to 9.52 million in March 2016, from 9.27 million in March 2015.

In terms of overall aircraft movements at the 39 airports in the country, MAHB recorded a 4.5% decrease to 67,821 in March 2016, from 71,033 a year ago. Aircraft movements in the first quarter of 2016 fell by 2.6% to 198,883, from 204,176 over the same period last year.

On its outlook, MAHB said the inherent demand for air travel continues to remain in the positive territory.

"The second quarter has the advantage of Malaysia Airlines’ improving performance and the recently-announced expanding code share with Emirates.

"Similarly, Malindo Air’s expected codesharing and interlining agreements with other foreign carriers would help, now that they have moved back to KLIA Main Terminal," it said.

Meanwhile, the airport operator is of the view that the impending increase in air navigation facility charges (ANFC) by the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia is not likely to affect the demand for travel.

"MAHB is optimistic [that] its final numbers for Malaysia airports would at least meet the estimated 2.5% growth for 2016. This is a likely possible scenario, considering seat capacity offerings moving to the positive range from the third quarter onwards," it said.