KLIA Records 4.9 Million Passengers in May as International Traffic Grows Under Visit Malaysia 2026 Drive
PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) continued to record strong passenger growth in May 2026, reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a key regional aviation hub amid preparations for the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd. (MAHB) said KLIA handled 4.9 million passenger movements during the month, of which 3.6 million were international travellers.
The figure represented a two per cent increase compared to May 2025, highlighting the sustained recovery of the aviation and tourism sectors despite ongoing global economic uncertainties.
According to MAHB, the encouraging performance was supported by expanding international connectivity and growing travel demand from key source markets.
“The continued growth in international passenger traffic reaffirms Malaysia’s role as an important gateway and travel destination in the region, particularly as the country intensifies preparations for Visit Malaysia 2026,” the airport operator said in a statement today.
Across the Malaysia Airports network, total passenger movements reached 7.9 million in May, driven by sustained international connectivity and healthy domestic travel demand.
MAHB managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said the launch of Hainan Airlines’ direct service between Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur was among the factors strengthening Malaysia’s connectivity with China.
He noted that China remains one of Malaysia’s most important tourism markets and expanding strategic air links is crucial in supporting tourism growth.
“The introduction of Hainan Airlines’ direct route between Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur further strengthens 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 improving Malaysia’s accessibility to international travellers,” he said.
Apart from strengthening flight connectivity, MAHB also carried out several infrastructure and passenger experience improvements across its airports during the month.
Among the completed projects were the modernisation of check-in counters at Miri Airport and Limbang Airport.
At Langkawi International Airport, the e-hailing pick-up zone was expanded to improve passenger convenience and ease ground transportation access.
Meanwhile, the first phase of restroom refurbishment works at Subang Airport was completed as part of ongoing efforts to enhance passenger comfort and service quality.
MAHB said upgrading airport facilities remains one of its priorities to ensure a smoother and more pleasant travel experience for passengers.
In a related development, MAHB’s wholly owned international asset in Türkiye, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISG), also recorded strong growth.
The airport handled 4.1 million passengers in May, representing a 10.8 per cent increase compared with April 2026.
The positive performance achieved both domestically and internationally reflects the resilience of the aviation industry and the effectiveness of MAHB’s strategy in strengthening connectivity while improving service standards.
With Visit Malaysia 2026 expected to attract more international visitors, MAHB remains optimistic that passenger traffic will continue to grow in the coming months, contributing positively to Malaysia’s tourism sector and broader economic expansion.
