In a statement today, the airport operator said this performance is nearing pre-pandemic levels, reaching 97.7% of the passenger traffic recorded during the same period in 2019.

“Notably, international passenger numbers have surpassed Q3 2019 levels by 7.4%, with 18.9 million passengers.

“In contrast, the domestic sector experienced a more modest growth, recording 17.2 million passengers and achieving 88.9% of the levels recorded in 2019,” it said.

MAHB said the improved traffic performance was largely driven by international passenger movements, the introduction of new airlines and routes, visa exemptions for travellers from China and India, and the steady increase in air travel demand.

It said the group’s network of local airports demonstrated an encouraging performance in Q3 2024, with international passenger movements consistently surpassing four million monthly.

“Overall, total passenger movements at the airports in Malaysia for Q3 2024 reached 24.8 million, representing 92.3% of the levels recorded in 2019,” it said.

Meanwhile, MAHB said its Turkish asset, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, recorded 11.3 million passengers in Q3 2024, a 12% increase over the same period in 2019.

“This growth was driven by international passenger movements, with 1.9 million passengers in September, up 43.7% from 2019 levels,” it said.

MAHB added that domestic passenger movements reached 5.4 million, up 2.7% from the previous quarter, and passenger movements are expected to remain robust, fuelled by network expansion and seasonal demand.