JAKARTA - Malaysia Airports said on June 19 that its local airport network handled 7.9 million passenger movements in May 2026, supported by international connectivity. KL International Airport led the monthly traffic, with 4.9 million passenger movements.
KLIA’s May total included 3.6 million international passengers, up 2 percent from May 2025, according to Malaysia Airports. The operator did not provide a full domestic-international split for the entire local network in the release.
The main route addition in May was Hainan Airlines’ daily Chongqing-Kuala Lumpur service, which began on May 16. Malaysia Airports said the service expands air links between Malaysia and China, one of the country’s main visitor markets for Visit Malaysia 2026.
Malaysia Airports Managing Director Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani said, “The introduction of Hainan Airlines' direct service between Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur further strengthens our connectivity with China, one of Malaysia's key visitor markets.”
The figures came during Malaysia’s Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign year. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture launched the Mesra Malaysia campaign on February 11 at KL Sentral, with Malaysia Airports named among the strategic partners supporting visitor-facing services.
MOTAC said the campaign is designed to raise hospitality and service standards among frontline workers in the transport and tourism sectors. The ministry said it supports Malaysia’s target of 47 million tourist arrivals by 2026.
Malaysia Airports also reported several passenger-facing upgrades completed in May. These included modernised check-in counters at Miri Airport and Limbang Airport, an expanded e-hailing pick-up zone at Langkawi International Airport and the first phase of restroom refurbishment works at Subang Airport.
