Year-to-Date Passengers Reach 88.3 million with International Travel Leading Growth

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 January 2025 – The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) today announced the latest air passenger traffic statistics for November 2024, demonstrating sustained recovery and growth in Malaysia’s aviation sector.

The monthly air passenger traffic in November 2024 reached 8.0 million passengers, marking a robust 15.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to November 2023, while slightly declining by 0.5 per cent month-on-month (MoM) compared to October 2024. November’s passenger figures represented 88.7 per cent of the traffic recorded in November 2019, maintaining the consistent recovery trend seen throughout 2024.

This YoY growth was driven primarily by a surge in international travel, supported by new route launches and expanded seat capacity. The slight MoM decline reflected seasonal travel adjustments, as travellers postponed trips to align with the December school holidays.

Domestic air passenger traffic in November 2024 accounted for 47.5 per cent of the total air passenger traffic, with 3.8 million passengers recorded. This represents a 10.9 per cent YoY increase from November 2023, however, a 1.6 per cent MoM decrease from October 2024. Domestic passenger traffic reached 83.3 per cent of November 2019 levels, reflecting the sector’s steady recovery.

International air passenger traffic stood at 4.2 million passengers in November 2024, marking a 20.7 per cent YoY increase and a 0.5 per cent MoM rise, achieving 94.1 per cent of the international passenger traffic recorded in November 2019. The growth was distributed evenly between ASEAN and non-ASEAN regions, each contributing 2.1 million passengers. ASEAN traffic recorded a 13.5 per cent YoY increase, while non-ASEAN traffic grew by a significant 28.9 per cent YoY.

Major airports in Malaysia posted strong YoY growth in November 2024 for both domestic and international routes. KL International Airport (KUL) recorded an 18.2 per cent increase, Penang International Airport (PEN) saw a 13.2 per cent rise, Senai International Airport (JHB) grew by 14.9 per cent, Langkawi International Airport (LGK) reported an 8.1 per cent increase, while Kuching International Airport (KCH) and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) posted YoY increases of 9.7 per cent and 12.8 per cent, respectively. Notably, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB) recorded the highest YoY growth at 42.1 per cent.

The introduction of new international routes in November was one of the factors contributing to the overall growth. These routes include Kuala Lumpur to Dalat (Vietnam), Nairobi (Kenya), Sri Vijaya Puram (India), and Chiang Rai (Thailand), as well as Kota Kinabalu to Kaohsiung City (Taiwan) and Shantou (China). The expansion of seat capacity across key routes also bolstered the sector’s recovery, with international traffic continuing to outpace domestic travel.

For the past 11 months of 2024, cumulative passenger traffic reached 88.3 million passengers, positioning Malaysia on track to meet MAVCOM’s full-year passenger traffic forecast of 95.4 million to 97.6 million passengers.

Datuk Seri Hj. Saripuddin Hj. Kasim, Executive Chairman of MAVCOM, commented, “The November air traffic results underscore the positive growth we have witnessed throughout the year in Malaysia’s aviation sector, with international connectivity playing a key role. The expansion of new routes and consistent enhancements in capacity have strengthened Malaysia’s international air connectivity. We are confident that this momentum will carry forward in 2025, as MAVCOM remains committed to fostering a sustainable, resilient aviation industry that supports economic growth, elevates service quality, and safeguards consumer rights.”