PETALING JAYA: KL International Airport (KLIA) saw 3.6 million international passengers traffic in May, supported by stronger regional connectivity and new flight links from China.
In its statement, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd
(MAHB) noted that KLIA saw 4.9 million passenger movements in the month when domestic movements were included.
The group network of airports registered total passenger movements of 7.9 million in May driven by sustained international connectivity.
“The continued growth in international traffic reinforces Malaysia's position as a key regional gateway under the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign,” MAHB noted.
The airport operator added that its international traffic growth was strengthened by the launch of Hainan Airlines’ new daily service between Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur, which commenced on May 16, 2026.
“The new route further expands connectivity between Malaysia and China, one of the country's key tourism source markets under the VM2026 campaign,” it stated.
Managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said: "The introduction of Hainan Airlines' direct service between Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur further improved our connectivity with China, one of Malaysia's key visitor markets.
“Expanding strategic air links such as these remains important in supporting tourism growth and enhancing Malaysia's accessibility to international travellers.”
Several passenger-focused improvements were also completed during the month, including modernised check-in counters at Miri Airport (MYY) and Limbang Airport (LMN), an expanded e-hailing pick-up zone at Langkawi International Airport (LGK).
Meanwhile, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (ISG), MAHB’s wholly-owned international asset in Türkiye, handled about 4.1 million passengers in May, representing a 10.8% increase compared to April.
