30% jump in international passengers at Langkawi airport, as island braces for LIMA

The Langkawi International Airport, which was recently expanded.

PETALING JAYA: The Langkawi International Airport handled some 370,000 international passengers last year, a 29.9% increase from 2017, following the completion of major expansion work in time for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019 (LIMA 19).

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) which manages airports nationwide, said the Langkawi airport, one of five international airports in the country, has been actively attracting new airlines, giving a boost to the island’s already vibrant tourism industry.

MAHB group CEO Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin described 2018 as a “big year” for the airport. With expansion works completed in September last year, it can now handle four million passengers annually from 1.5 million previously.

The expanded airport terminal has a floor size of 23,000 sq m with better facilities for car park, check-in counters, baggage system and washrooms.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd group CEO Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin says 2018 was a ‘big year’ for the airport.

Next in line, said Raja Azmi, are new food and beverage as well as retail outlets at the airport, including several “Langkawi firsts” which will only be available there.

Two new airlines, Britain’s TUI Airways and Khazakhstan’s Sunday Airlines, have also begun operating from the airport, bringing the number of airlines there to 10 and increasing the total number of destinations to 17, including Manchester, Almaty, Guiyang, Chengdu, and Hanzhou.

“We will continue to expand the overall connectivity at the airport by seeking new airline routes and increased flight frequencies from key destinations in Europe, Central Asia, and China with new services and increase in frequencies,” Raja Azmi said.

Travellers can expect a better retail and dining experience at the newly expanded Langkawi International Airport.

He said MAHB has been working with Tourism Malaysia under the Joint International Tourism Development Programme to help local and foreign airlines promote the country abroad, as well as with with the Langkawi Development Authority to enhance marketing efforts to boost passenger arrivals.

The airport recently received the “Highly Commended” recognition in the “Under 4 million passengers” category at the Routes Asia 2019 Marketing Awards in Cebu, Philippines.

“The award by Routes Asia is indeed a further testimony of MAHB and the government’s efforts to reinforce Langkawi International Airport’s marketability and presence on the tourism map, as well as act as a larger catalyst to its economic development,” said Raja Azmi. - FMT