KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) said double-digit growth in air traffic at Malaysia's international airports helped push passenger traffic to 8.8 million for the month of July, a 14 per cent year-on-year increase.
International passengers made up more than 51 per cent of traffic which passed the country's airports, thanks to restoration of international routes, 30-day visa exemptions for tourists from China and India, and the launch of new international destinations such as Sihanouk in Cambodia.
Senai International Airport led the way with a 37 per cent increase in international passenger traffic, while Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport all saw more than 20 per cent increases.
In terms of traffic distribution, Asean and non-Asean routes both contributed equally to the growth in international traffic.
For the first seven months of 2024, the cumulative air passenger traffic reached 55.4 million passengers, which Mavcom said in line with its forecast of 93.9 to 107.1 million passengers for the entire year.
International traffic continues to be a key driver, constituting 51.4 per cent of the total year-to-date passenger traffic, while domestic traffic accounted for 48.6 per cent.
"International traffic continues to lead the recovery, while the significant growth observed in both Asean and non-Asean routes underscores the resurgence of global travel, driven by restored connectivity and rising consumer confidence. We are particularly encouraged by the strong performance in non-Asean markets, which indicates a growing interest in Malaysia as a destination and transit hub."
"As the aviation industry approaches pre-pandemic levels, Mavcom is optimistic that Malaysia will be on track to meet the expected passenger traffic for the year," Mavcom executive chairman Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim said.