MALAYSIA. Malaysia Airports passenger traffic recovered to 50% of pre-pandemic levels, or 34.1 million, in the first half of the year, the group reported in its latest interim results. International traffic grew threefold year-on-year to 10.7 million.
In the six months to 30 June, revenue reached RM1,260.6 million (US$281.7 million), up by +91% year-on-year. Non-aeronautical revenue reached RM474 million (US$106 million), up by +74.6% year-on-year, largely due to a stronger contribution from commercial operations. Within this, retail revenue climbed by +50.1% to +68.6 million (US$15.3 million).
EBITDA reached RM471 million (US$105.2 million) compared to a negative RM38.5 million a year earlier. The group posted a net loss of RM162.9 million (US$36.4 million), an improvement on the figure of RM447.4 million in H1 2021.
The business was buoyed by an almost seven-fold rebound in Malaysian airports passenger volumes year-on-year to 20.3 million. In June, international passenger numbers reached 30% of June 2019 levels, though this was after only three months of a relaxation in travel restrictions.
The group noted that the encouraging trend in international load factors (72.9% in June) “provides optimism that international traffic is gaining momentum”.
In Türkiye, passenger traffic at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport reached 13.8 million, up by 53.9% year-on-year and over 80% of H1 2019 levels. In an important milestone, international traffic climbed +5.1% higher than in H1 2019.
At Sabiha Gokcen, passenger numbers in June hit 86% of June 2022 levels, with a balance of 48% international and 52% domestic. The company said that the “better domestic and international passenger mix is expected to drive higher revenue yield”.
