Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Southeast Asia’s largest airport by land area, served 23.4 million international passengers in the first half of this year, up 7.8% from a year earlier, driven by expansion of new direct routes.
Total passenger movements grew 5.4% year on year to 31.7 million.
A series of new direct routes to Kuala Lumpur were launched in June, including AirAsia’s Kuala Lumpur–Kansai service, China Eastern Airlines’ Dalian–Kuala Lumpur route via Nanjing, Lion Air’s Kuala Lumpur–Lombok and Banjarmasin–Kuala Lumpur services, and Batik Air’s flights from Shanghai and Padang to Kuala Lumpur, The Star reported.
The new services strengthened Malaysia’s connectivity with key regional markets while expanding travel options for passengers.
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Passengers wait to check in at Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Terminal 2 in Sepang, Malaysia, July 19, 2024. Photo by Reuters |
Improved utilization of available airline capacity also boosted international load factors, reflecting sustained demand despite a challenging environment, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang spans roughly 100 square kilometers and is a key hub for both domestic and international air travel.
Its Terminal 1 underwent an upgrade worth RM30 million (US$7 million) last year as Malaysia witnessed a surge in tourist numbers.
Malaysia retained its position as Southeast Asia’s most-visited country after recording 21.12 million international visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 2.5% increase from a year earlier.