“MAHB is implementing various efforts to improve the position of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to be among the world’s top 10 busiest airports this year.”

RAJA AZMI RAJA NAZUDDIN, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd chief financial officer

SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is planning to re-explore the Indian aviation industry as there is positive growth potential after the country announced the privatisation policy for 50 airports.

Managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said MAHB was looking at about five airports in India.

However, he said the proposed business model between MAHB and its Indian counterpart was yet to be finalised.

“We have a high target in the Asian market, including India, which offers huge growth potential. We are planning to buy a major asset that will give positive returns to MAHB. We still see the country as an important market,” he said after the airport operator’s annual general meeting, here, yesterday.

MAHB recently disposed of a 11 per cent stake in GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd in Hyderabad.

Badlisham said MAHB would also conclude negotiations with strategic partners for the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SGIA) this year.

“The Turkish government is building a second rail line in SGIA that can offer growth opportunities to MAHB if it is part of this development,” he said.

Chief financial officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin said MAHB had targeted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) to surpass RM2 billion in the financial year ending December 31, the highest since it was incorporated in 1991.

He said with the rapid growth of aviation ecosystems in Malaysia and the world, MAHB had placed high targets for passenger growth.

“This year, we have targeted growth in 39 airports in Malaysia to surpass six per cent, and SGIA to exceed seven per cent.

“MAHB is implementing efforts to improve the position of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to be among the world’s top 10 busiest airports this year, compared with its 12th position last year,” he said.

For the financial year ended December 31 last year, MAHB’s achieved a record revenue of RM4.65 billion and earnings before Ebitda of RM1.91 billion.