4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
KLIA poised for growth as MAHB eyes more foreign airlines in 2025
SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is pushing ahead with its strategy to establish Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as a key hub in the Asia Pacific region by intensifying efforts to attract more international airlines.
MAHB chief aviation and strategy officer Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin said the airport operator is targeting 12 foreign airlines to fly to Malaysia this year, a goal similar to what it successfully achieved in 2024.
"We have eight new airlines confirmed so far this year, five of which are operating at KLIA. They include long-haul operators such as British Airways and FitsAir from Colombo, as well as Chinese carriers including Lucky Air from Yunnan, Hainan Airlines from Haikou, and Juneyao Airlines from Shanghai," he told Business Times.
Megat Ardian said MAHB has been actively engaging with global carriers over the last two years through airline networking events such as Routes World and Routes Asia, as well as direct visits to airline headquarters.
"Our aim is to build direct connectivity to KLIA. Every new airline brings new routes and new passenger flows, which either terminate here (Kuala Lumpur) or continue on to other destinations," he said.
He said the strategy is similar to a mix of 'hunting and farming' – hunting for new airlines to introduce new routes and farming through sustained engagement with existing foreign and local carriers to increase frequencies and up-gauge aircraft types from narrowbody to widebody, for example.
"We work closely with our local carriers and foreign ones that are already operating here to explore capacity increases either by using larger aircraft or operating more flights," Megat Ardian added.
MAHB also collaborates closely with Tourism Malaysia by participating in joint sales missions to key markets such as China, the Middle East, and Europe, where the airport operator also engages directly with airlines.
Megat Ardian said MAHB supports airlines' planning by sharing extensive traffic data to highlight connectivity opportunities and potential feeder traffic via local partners such as Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Batik Air Malaysia.
"Some airlines want to know where their passengers go beyond KLIA. We analyse the behind, direct and beyond traffic to demonstrate how they can connect with the partners here to fill up their aircraft, especially for new routes," he said, adding that MAHB's strategy is heavily data-driven.
Megat Ardian also said MAHB now takes a more holistic approach with the input from its new shareholders by looking at both airline and passenger behaviours, including loyalty usage and passenger segmentation.
"We analyse which carriers are already operating in Bangkok or Singapore but not yet in Kuala Lumpur. With many of them getting new aircraft soon, we want them to consider putting those aircraft here," he said.
He added that the team is currently in talks with several European national carriers that do not yet serve KLIA, while also maintaining engagements with airlines in China and the Middle East.
Speaking of the China market, Megat Ardian said the travel demand is rebounding, especially with the extension of visa-free stays to 90 days in Malaysia.
"It's been a key market for us since 2018, and we're seeing traffic steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels," he said.
India and the Middle East are also fast-growing markets, with the transfer traffic from Indian secondary cities into Australia and the South Pacific via KLIA picking up, aided by strong connectivity provided by local carriers.
KLIA recorded 30 million passengers in the first half of 2025, a nearly 10 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024, with average load factors hovering around 78 per cent.
Megat Ardian said MAHB also maintains ongoing discussions with North American carriers, including U.S. and Canadian airlines, though these airlines are highly focused on ensuring point-to-point and feeder connectivity before committing to a new route.
"In our discussions, they always ask, 'Can I fill half my plane with direct passengers and rely on feeder partners for the rest?' That's where we come in by identifying and connecting them with local airlines to support their networks," he said.
Speaking on KLIA infrastructure, Megat Ardian said the need for a third terminal at KLIA remains part of the long-term masterplan, which is currently being reviewed in line with projected passenger growth.
"For now, the focus is on enhancing services, efficiency, and unlocking optimisation at KLIA (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2)," he said.
One of the key initiatives under study is the inter-terminal airside transfer between KLIA Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2) that will allow seamless passenger and baggage transfer, a crucial requirement to support hub operations.
"We've completed time-motion studies for both passengers and bags. "What's next is working with airlines and ground handlers to finalise operational processes," he said.
Beyond passengers, KLIA's aviation strategy is also fuelling growth in air cargo. The airport hosts five major cargo terminal operators, which include MASkargo Sdn Bhd, Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd (GTR), Raya Airways Sdn Bhd, FedEx and DHL.
KLIA has seen rising air cargo volumes in 2024 up to today.
"Increased flight frequencies and new routes mean more (aircraft) belly cargo capacity. We're seeing growth in small parcels, perishables, semiconductors, batteries, and tech-related shipments," Megat Ardian said.
While KLIA remains MAHB's central focus, Megat Ardian said other local international airports such as Penang International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Langkawi International Airport and Kuching International Airport are also playing supporting roles.
"KLIA is the gateway and hub for international connectivity, but the regional airports are evolving and feeding into the ecosystem. Each has its own development plan under Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB)," he added.
He also said that MAHB remains confident that enhanced connectivity, ongoing infrastructure optimisation and strong airline partnerships will propel KLIA closer to becoming a premier airport hub in the region.
