Subang Airports Records 25% Increase In International Traffic With Resumption Of Jet Operations

SEPANG - Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport or better known as Subang Airport (IATA Code: SZB) recorded a significant 25% increase in international passenger traffic in August 2024, following the re-introduction of jet operations after a long hiatus. The resumption of jet operations at SZB has been met with positive feedback well received, enhancing connectivity to a wider selection of domestic and regional destinations. The airport's strategic location near to the city centre also offers a more accessible and efficient travel alternative.

In August, SZB welcomed 21,096 international passengers, up from 16,900 the previous month. Currently, SZB is served by five airlines-three local and two international. Firefly Airlines (FY), Scoot (TR), and Transnusa (8B) operate international flights to Singapore and Jakarta, while AirAsia (AK) and Batik Air (OD) provide domestic connections to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and Penang, among other destinations. Domestic traffic at SZB in the same month totalled 83,904 passengers, contributing to an overall passenger count of 105,000, representing a 1.3% growth compared to the previous month.

Across its local network of airports, Malaysia Airports surpassed 8 million monthly passenger movements for the second consecutive month, reaching 8.4 million passengers. This figure includes 4.4 million international passengers and 4.0 million domestic passengers. Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) saw a 7% increase in international traffic, fuelled by AirAsia's new route to Ningbo (NGB) and additional thrice-weekly flights to Denpasar. The growth was largely driven by key international markets, with Indonesia, China, and India leading the way.

In Türkiye, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) recorded 3.9 million passengers in August 2024. This included 2.1 million international passengers, buoyed by new routes from Pegasus and Ajet Airlines, which introduced weekly flights to Tuzla and five weekly flights to Cairo. Domestic traffic also remained strong, reaching 1.9 million passengers.

Overall, the Malaysia Airports Group achieved 12.3 million passenger movements in August 2024, maintaining a robust performance with over 12 million passengers for the second consecutive month. This represents a 96.1% recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The sustained growth is attributed to various factors, including late-season summer travel, the launch of new airlines and routes, increased flight frequencies, and the resumption of jet operations at SZB. These developments highlight the Group's ongoing strategic efforts to enhance connectivity and meet rising travel demand.