KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Passenger traffic at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) rose 14.4 percent year-on-year to 16.9 million in the first quarter of 2026, driven by festive travel and expanding connectivity, airport operator Malaysia Airports said on Monday.
Across its domestic network, total passenger movements reached 27.4 million during the quarter, reflecting broad-based growth at key gateways, the firm said in a statement.
In March alone, local airports handled 9.1 million total passenger movements, with KLIA contributing 5.6 million.
Managing Director Mohd Izani Ghani said growth across the network was supported by expanding connectivity and the rising role of Malaysian airports as regional gateways.
"Our priority is to match this momentum with the right capacity, seamless operations and targeted improvements on the ground, ensuring we remain competitive while unlocking further growth opportunities for Malaysia," he said.
The group said ongoing upgrades to airport facilities and operations are improving passenger flow and overall efficiency. Connectivity also continued to expand, with three new international airlines joining the network in March. ■
