KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's passenger traffic rose in February, showcasing a notable increase in air travel demand and a promising trajectory towards recovery, official data showed Monday.
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) said in a statement that Malaysia witnessed passenger traffic reaching 8.1 million in February, a substantial 12.6 percent month-on-month increase from 7.19 million in January.
This also represents a substantial 34.8 percent year-on-year growth compared to February 2023, 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 January to 3.99 million in February 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 2024 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. ■
