Malaysia Boosts Air Links with China and India
Malaysia is ramping up its efforts to enhance air connectivity with China and India, leveraging visa-free entry policies and expanded airline partnerships to drive international traffic growth. In 2024, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) welcomed 12 new airlines into its network, adding 71 destinations and boosting seat capacity by 5.42 million. This expansion has played a key role in reinvigorating traffic, with the Malaysia-China market experiencing a notable surge as new routes were launched from previously unserved and underserved cities such as Ningbo, Qingdao, and Yantai. Meanwhile, the Malaysia-India market has grown rapidly, buoyed by AirAsia’s swift expansion and increased capacity from Indian carriers.
Data from OAG Schedules Analyser shows that nonstop Malaysia-China capacity reached 8.3 million two-way seats in 2024—a 139% year-on-year increase that has fully restored capacity to 2019 levels. Similarly, capacity between Malaysia and India grew by 23% year-on-year to 3.9 million seats, recovering to 87% of pre-pandemic figures. Overall, international traffic at MAHB-managed airports climbed to 49.6 million passengers in 2024, reaching 93.1% of the 2019 levels.
A MAHB spokesperson, speaking at Routes Asia 2025 in Perth, Australia, highlighted the significant impact of visa-free policies on these gains. The 30-day visa waiver for Chinese and Indian arrivals, along with the 15-day waiver for outbound Malaysia-China travel, has helped stimulate demand and encourage more travelers to visit Malaysia. These measures have proven instrumental in attracting tourists and business travelers alike, further solidifying Malaysia’s reputation as a regional aviation hub.
To sustain this momentum, MAHB has launched its Network Development Program (NDP) 2025-27, which offers incentives designed to attract new carriers and stimulate further route expansion. The program focuses on drawing more services from China, India, and long-haul markets, ensuring that Malaysia continues to enhance its global connectivity.
Overall, MAHB-managed airports recorded 93.8 million passenger movements in 2024, reaching 89.1% of 2019 levels. Among the 12 new airlines joining the network were Air Macau, Iraqi Airways, Turkmenistan Airlines, Cambodia Airways, Qingdao Airlines, AirAsia Cambodia, Loong Air, and Air India. With these strategic initiatives, Malaysia is well on its way to solidifying its position as a key gateway in the Asia-Pacific region, providing enhanced connectivity and driving robust international traffic growth.
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