KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 1 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia’s passenger traffic rose in Feb, showcasing a notable increase in air travel demand and a promising trajectory towards recovery, official data showed, today.
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM), said in a statement that, Malaysia witnessed passenger traffic reaching 8.1 million in Feb, a substantial 12.6 percent month-on-month increase from 7.19 million in Jan.
This also represents a substantial 34.8 percent year-on-year growth compared to Feb last year, which recorded 6.01 million passengers.
The data showed a notable month-on-month growth across all regions, with domestic passenger traffic leading with a 20.4 percent increase, from 3.32 million in Jan to 3.99 million in Feb, 2024.
International passenger traffic saw a positive month-on-month growth rate of 5.9 percent. This growth can be attributed to various factors, including the Chinese New Year festive period, the month-long school break, and the establishment of 30-day visa exemptions for tourists from China and India, which collectively stimulated travel demand.
According to Saripuddin Kasim, executive chairman of MAVCOM, the present data indicates that the demand for air travel in Malaysia may reach pre-pandemic level by the end of this year and potentially surpass it in 2025.
However, he said, the current aircraft capacity remains a pressing issue due to supply chain disruption, causing delays in aircraft deliveries.– NNN-BERNAMA
