MAHB network of airports for 1H23 recorded 56.1 million passenger movements, reaching 82% of 2019 levels over the same corresponding period.
The airport network manager said the significant progress in traffic recovery was driven by the reopening of China borders from 8 January 2023, further lifting of the remaining travel restrictions at other countries, airlines route expansions, and other airports’ move to allow more flights as labour shortage is being addressed gradually. Capitalising on these positive developments airlines progressively resumed capacity and reactivated grounded aircraft and recorded up to 78% of pre-pandemic capacity levels at the end of 1H2023. In June 2023, the network of airports had achieved another significant milestone handling more than 10 million passenger movements for the first time, since the 2020 global shutdown in March.
Total passenger movements for the first 6 months of 2023 for airports in Malaysia continued to show resilience, recording 38.9 million passengers as the international traffic gained ground against a backdrop of positive developments, while the domestic sector continued to lead traffic recovery momentum. The recommencement of 45 airlines and the commencement of 2 new airlines in 1H23 boosted airlines total seat capacity recovery to 75% at 50.5 million in 1H23 compared to 1H19 at 67.3 million. In addition, the total average load factor for 1H23 exceeded 1H19 by 1.2 percentage points registering at 76.1%, with a higher average load factor recorded each month during the first half of 2023 except for the month of Ramadhan, providing optimism for a potential growth in seat capacity towards the path of traffic recovery.
Istanbul SGIA has achieved an important milestone as the airport outperformed pre-pandemic total passenger movements for the second month in a row recording a growth of 4.4% for June 2023 and 1.5% for 1H2023 over the same period in 2019 respectively. International passenger movements have reached new heights, continuing to lead traffic growth recording close to 1.7 million passengers. The airport welcomed 2 new airlines namely British Airways which commenced service from London-Heathrow (LHR) base with 4 weekly flight frequencies and Flynas from Dammam, Saudi Arabia base with 3 weekly flight frequencies from 1 June.
Pegasus has launched 4 new international services to Amman, Jordan (4 weekly flight frequencies), Rhodes, Greece (2 weekly flight frequencies), Mytilene, Greece (2 weekly flight frequencies) and Kazan, Russia (2 weekly flight frequencies) also from 1 June. Similarly, domestic passenger movements registered 1.6 million passengers for a more respectable year-on-year growth of 12.4% over June 2022. It is anticipated that with the onset of the summer season, international passenger movements would continue to be buoyant, driven by the strong peak season traffic demand.
Airports Council International (ACI) announced in their recent 2023 Outlook report (June 2023) that the global, Europe and Asia-Pacific region for the year 2023 would reach 92%, 92.2% and 85.3% of 2019 levels respectively. In addition, with the new developments ACI estimated Asia Pacific is expected to have the strongest recovery this year.
