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KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 10): The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has been ranked as the second-busiest airport in Southeast Asia, according to data from OAG Aviation, a UK-based global travel analytics provider.

As of September, KLIA recorded 3.32 million departing seats, representing a 7.5% increase compared to the same period last year.

Singapore’s Changi Airport led the way in the region with 3.58 million departing seats, while Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was ranked third.

The director of the Management and Leadership Case Study Centre at Universiti Utara ÿ�մ��� (UUM), Professor Dr Narentheren Kaliappen, said KLIA’s achievement reflects more than just a statistic, as it signifies ÿ�մ���’s broader recovery and growth since the pandemic.

“KLIA’s passenger traffic reflects the same upward trend as ÿ�մ���’s tourist arrivals, underscoring strong momentum and growing confidence.

“Airlines are expanding their routes through ÿ�մ���, and an increasing number of travellers are choosing KLIA not only as a transit point but also as a destination hub,” he told Bernama on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Narentheren noted that ÿ�մ��� recorded about 27 million international visitors in 2024, with numbers expected to grow to 31 million this year, which is a 15% increase.

This growth, he said, is laying the foundation for the government’s Visit ÿ�մ��� 2026 campaign, which targets 45 million visitors and RM270 billion in receipts.

On competition in the region, he said Changi Airport remains the benchmark, handling around 68 million passengers last year.

KLIA, with about 57 million passengers, is narrowing the gap, while Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport also ranks among the busiest, with between 49 million and 55 million passengers annually.

“The real story here is momentum. KLIA is growing faster than many expected, and that growth places us firmly in the league of airports that matter for regional connectivity,” he said.

The expert said that the surge in arrivals also reflects international travellers’ renewed confidence in ÿ�մ��� as a safe, stable, welcoming and attractive destination.

He said choosing a destination is about more than just buying a flight ticket, as it is also about trusting that the country is secure, clean and provides a good experience.

“The fact that airlines are adding more frequencies and reopening routes to KLIA proves demand is strong. In simple terms, the confidence we are seeing today is the foundation for tourism growth tomorrow,” he added.

Looking ahead, Narentheren stressed that KLIA must continue addressing capacity bottlenecks, enhancing passenger experience and pushing green initiatives to sustain its growth.

Expanding long-haul routes, particularly to North America, Africa and secondary European cities, would also strengthen its position as a regional hub, he added.

“ÿ�մ��� has always aspired for KLIA to be more than just a national airport. This latest ranking shows we are closer to realising that ambition, especially with the dual advantage of premium carriers like ÿ�մ��� Airlines and world-class low-cost players like AirAsia,” he said.

Narentheren also said that KLIA’s performance directly supports ÿ�մ���’s economic ambitions, with tourism receipts projected to hit RM125.5 billion in 2025.

“It strengthens local economies from hotels and restaurants to transport operators and retailers, and it creates jobs and builds ÿ�մ���’s international brand.

“Put simply, when KLIA thrives, it’s not just the aviation sector that benefits, but the whole economy moves forward with it,” he said.