Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) reported a significant milestone in July, with passenger traffic exceeding 12 million for the first time since 2020. This marks the highest monthly traffic volume since the pandemic began.

The surge in traffic was largely driven by MAHB's local airports, which saw a record 8.5 million passengers. This figure includes 4.5 million international travellers and 4.0 million domestic passengers, reflecting an 8.0 per cent increase from June 2024. The growth in international passenger movements rose by 11 per cent, while domestic movements saw a 5.0 per cent increase.

In addition to the local performance, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, part of MAHB's Turkish assets, recorded 3.9 million passengers in July. This represents a 6 per cent rise from the previous month. The airport also achieved a notable increase in international passenger movements, which reached nearly 2.0 million, a 9 per cent rise over June 2024, while domestic movements grew by 3 per cent.

MAHB's managing director, Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani, expressed commitment to maintaining this growth trajectory. "Together with our airport community and partners, we are committed to sustaining this growth through continuous improvements in passenger experience, connectivity, infrastructure, and operational excellence," he said.

The rise in traffic can be attributed to several factors, including the addition of Qingdao Airlines and increased flight frequencies by airlines serving key markets such as Indonesia, China, and Singapore. This expansion has contributed to a recovery of total seat capacity to 85.8 per cent.