10% Increase in International Traffic at KLIA amid Route Expansion Push
KL International Airport (KLIA) recorded a 10.3% increase in international passenger traffic in July 2025, reaching 3.9 million passengers, up from 3.6 million in June. This growth was partly driven by strategic network expansion initiatives, including the recent launch of Loong Air’s (GJ) tri-weekly service connecting Kuala Lumpur and Xi’an, further enhancing the airport’s connectivity to key Chinese markets.
KLIA currently hosts several Chinese carriers, including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, and Air China, all of which serve major Chinese cities such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Beijing. The addition of Loong Air’s Xi’an route further broadens the airport’s access to China’s vast and diverse air travel market, reinforcing KLIA’s position as a critical gateway for Chinese passengers traveling to Southeast Asia and beyond.
Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, emphasised the importance of this development, “Strategic growth in Chinese connectivity is a key driver of Malaysia’s broader economic expansion and reinforces KLIA’s position as Southeast Asia’s preferred aviation hub. Direct air links with emerging cities like Xi’an not only increase passenger traffic but also facilitate greater trade and investment opportunities. This positions Malaysia as a vital gateway for China-Southeast Asia movement, promoting sustainable growth across the aviation, tourism, and commerce sectors, and accelerating regional integration.”
Beyond KLIA, Malaysia Airports’ overall network of local airports handled a total of 8.9 million passenger movements in July 2025, comprising 4.6 million international and 4.3 million domestic travellers. Meanwhile, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (ISG), a wholly-owned asset of the Group in Türkiye recorded total passenger movements of 4.4 million for the same period, including 2.3 million international and 2.1 million domestic passengers. Together, these figures brought the Group’s total passenger volume to 13.3 million in July, a 5.7% increase compared to June 2025.
Malaysia Airports continues to focus on infrastructure and technology enhancements to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and enhance the traveller experience. These efforts align with the Group’s aspiration to be one of the most connected aviation and logistics hubs within the Asia-Pacific region.