MAHB Records 8.9 Mln Passenger Movements In February 2026, Up 5.8 Pct Y-o-y

SEPANG, March 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airports (MAHB) recorded 8.9 million passenger movements in February 2026, bringing the year-to-date total to 18.3 million passengers for the first two months of the year.

In a statement today, MAHB said the figure represents a 5.8 per cent increase year-on-year (y-o-y) compared with the same period in 2025.

MAHB managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said passenger traffic in the first two months of 2026 recorded a steady start across the local airport network, reflecting expanding connectivity and sustained demand for air travel.

"Even as passenger volumes grow, service standards have been consistently maintained," he said.

He noted that Langkawi International Airport achieved its fifth consecutive recognition as the Best Airport in Asia Pacific (2–5 million passengers) under the 2025 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards by Airports Council International (ACI).

According to MAHB, the growth was supported by the introduction of new airline services and increased flight frequencies on key regional routes during the Chinese New Year travel period.

MAHB said that during the month, several airlines introduced new routes and charter services, including Greater Bay Airlines’ charter flights between Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2, as well as China Eastern Airlines’ charter service from Hefei.

It said Batik Air Malaysia also commenced flights between Kota Kinabalu and Singapore, while Firefly launched a charter route linking Tawau and Nanjing.

In addition, MAHB said Spring Airlines began services between Penang and Guangzhou, and Xiamen Airlines introduced a new route connecting Kuala Lumpur and Hangzhou.

MAHB said the Chinese New Year festive season also resulted in higher flight frequencies across several domestic and regional routes.

Airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, AirAsia and Batik Air, added services to high-demand destinations such as Kuching, Johor Bahru, Tawau and Sibu, helping to accommodate the seasonal increase in travel demand as families and leisure travellers returned to their hometowns and holiday destinations.

For February, KLIA handled 5.5 million passengers, continuing to anchor international traffic, particularly on routes linking Southeast Asia, China and other major regional hubs.

Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu International Airport recorded 760,620 passenger movements, representing a 1.3 per cent increase compared with January.

Despite the positive growth, MAHB said it will continue to closely monitor global developments affecting the aviation sector, including the evolving situation in the Middle East, while ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operations across its network.

-- BERNAMA