MAHB airports sees 98.8% drop in passenger numbers

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s (MAHB) network of airports had seen a 98.8% fall in passenger numbers in April from a year ago due to the movement control order (MCO).

“Our airports registered 137,000 passengers in April 2020, a decline of 98.8% over April 2019. International and domestic passenger movements recorded 40,000 and 97,000 passengers, respectively,” the airport operator said in a statement.

“On a last-12-month basis, the total MAHB network of airports registered 121.6 million passengers, which is a decline of 10% over the same period last year,” it added.

MAHB said that overall aircraft movements contracted by 91.6%, with international and domestic aircraft movements declining by 92.9% and 90.7%, respectively, compared to April 2019.

It said the MCO meant flights were initially restricted to repatriation operations, to and from international sectors and for ongoing rescued Malaysians travellers to the domestic sector.

“Nevertheless, local airlines have since resumed flights to key domestic routes with minimal frequencies from April 29 and are ready to increase more flights with the government’s endorsement to allow more interstate border movements with strict traveling guidelines,” it said.

Meanwhile, the country’s main airport gateway KL International Airport (KLIA) had recorded 56,000 passenger movements, with the Asean and non-asean sectors registering 11,000 and 29,000 passenger movements respectively.

“April 2020 passenger movements for KLIA Main Terminal and klia2 recorded 49,000 and 8,000 passengers. Overall aircraft movements at KLIA declined by 93.4% over April 2019. International and domestic aircraft movements at KLIA decrease 91.9% and 96.5%, respectively,” it said.