Aircraft movements in first 9 months up 9.53%

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15, 2011): Aircraft movements at all airports in Malaysia in the first nine months of this year rose 9.53% to 480,974 from 439,138 in the same period last year.

In a statement today, the Transport Ministry said of the 480,974 movements, 64.66% were for domestic flights and 35.34% for international flights.Aircraft movements this year at the KL International Airport (KLIA) including the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) showed a 10.95% increase from 180,219 in the same period last year.

Twenty airports including KLIA, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and STOLports in Sabah and Sarawak showed a growth in aircraft movements of between 0.60% and 89.15% in the first nine months of 2011. However, seven airports -- Kuala Terengganu, Malacca, Sandakan, Tawau, Limbang, Pangkor and Redang -- showed a decline of between 1.27% and 100%.

The growth in aircraft movements was attributed to higher flight frequency and new routes for both local and foreign airline companies. In addition, new airline companies operating at all the country's international airports also contributed to the growth in aircraft movements. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd expects the country's airports to post a 6.6% growth in aircraft movements this year compared with 2010. 

– Bernama.