MAHB records 7.1 pct passenger growth in July 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's (MAHB) network of airports, including Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (Istanbul SGIA) recorded 11.4 million passengers in July 2017, a 7.1 per cent growth over the same month of 2016.

MAHB said international traffic recorded 5.3 million passengers with a year-onyear increase of 12.3 per cent, while domestic traffic improved 2.9 per cent to six million passengers compared with July 2016.

It said overall aircraft movements increased 2.1 per cent with international movements advanced 10.1 per cent increase, while domestic movements decreased 2.5 per cent over July 2016.

“On a last-twelve-month basis, the total MAHB network of airports registered 8.5 per cent growth with 124.8 million passengers, the highest traffic handled over a 12-month period by the network,” it said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

On the local front, airports in Malaysia registered 8.3 million passenger movements in July 2017, a 5.2 per cent year-on-year growth over July 2016.

International sector recorded 4.3 million passengers with an 11.7 per cent increase while domestic sector registered four million passengers, a decline of one per cent.

International traffic for ASEAN destinations grew 12.8 per cent to 2.1 million passengers, whereas nonASEAN traffic posted a 10.6 per cent growth to 2.2 million passengers, with overall aircraft movements increased 3.7 per cent.

Overall average load factor was 77.5 per cent in July 2017, a decrease of 1.1 percentage points compared with the same month last year.

On a last-twelve-month basis, the total MAHB network of airports registered 8.5 per cent growth with 124.8 million passengers, the highest traffic handled over a 12 month period by the network.

MAHB said among factors contributing to the growth were the shift in haj travel season to July 2017, visa relaxation for India and China, competitive fares, as well as a favourable exchange rate for foreign tourists.

It said in addition, the increased demand was rightly supported by adequate increase in airlines' international seat capacity.

Meanwhile, it said Istanbul SGIA continued to register growth in passenger traffic for the fifth consecutive month in 2017, with July posting a double-digit growth for the first time since May 2016.

Istanbul SGIA passenger traffic posted a 12.7 per cent growth in July 2017 over the same period last year to three million passengers, the first time passenger traffic surpassed the three million mark since August 2015.

“This is an indication of confidence returning to Istanbul SGIA,” it added. — Bernama