KUALA LUMPUR (May 2): Malaysia's air passenger traffic saw a significant increase year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024), rising 16.1% to 22.6 million passengers, nearing pre-pandemic levels, according to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).

Mavcom, in a statement on Thursday, said the air passenger traffic in 1Q2024 reached 85.5% of 2019 levels, with international air traffic recovery at 89.3% and domestic at 81.7%.

The recovery was primarily driven by international air traffic, which surged by 39.9% y-o-y, reaching 11.9 million passengers in 1Q2024, Mavcom said. However, quarterly domestic air passenger traffic experienced a slight dip of 2.3%, totalling 10.7 million passengers.

"For the first time since the pandemic, the share of international air traffic exceeded domestic air traffic, reflecting a robust recovery in international routes and frequencies as well as a shift back to international travel as global tourism recovers," the commission said.

On a month-to-month basis, the month of March saw a 10% decline in air passenger traffic to 7.3 million from 8.1 million in February 2024, reflective of subdued travel activities during the holy month of Ramadan, Mavcom said.

"Nevertheless, air passenger traffic in March 2024 showcased a 5.6% y-o-y increase from March 2023, which recorded 6.9 million passengers," it added.

Air cargo movements down but still above pre-pandemic levels

In terms of air cargo movements, Mavcom reported that Malaysia recorded 227,365 tonnes of cargo movements in 1Q2024, a decrease of 6.3% compared with 242,750 tonnes during 1Q2023.

Despite a reduction in air cargo movements in 1Q2024, Mavcom executive chairman Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim highlighted that Malaysia’s air cargo movements have remained above pre-pandemic levels at 100.7% of air cargo movements during the first quarter of 2019.

He further said that the commission is optimistic about the continued recovery and growth of the aviation industry, despite recent cancellations and rerouting of flights due to the ongoing tension in the Middle East.

"As we review the air traffic figures for 1Q2024, it is clear that the aviation sector is on a robust path to recovery. Airlines have shifted their attention to restoring and adding new international destinations in their networks, and the establishment of 30-day visa exemptions for tourists from China and India has provided a conducive environment for the accelerated return of international air travel," Saripuddin added.