With the newest implementation of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) seeks to regain its momentum in passenger numbers.

In the past two days, the airport operator said that the flight movement of the local airlines at the International Airport of Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) had gradually increased, with average daily flights increasing by 15% to 122 of 97.

Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, Chief Executive Officer of the MAHB Group, said this was a stimulating development for the aviation industry.

The same patterns were also visible at other national and international airports where passenger movements have tripled over the past few days after the restrictions were eased, he said.

“The airport community, including our airline partners and retailers, shares the same optimism with the easing up of the restrictions not just in Malaysia but also globally.

“We welcome the move by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture to revive domestic tourism by launching the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia recovery plan and we also look forward to a time when international borders can reopen.

“We are already seeing several countries such as Singapore, China, New Zealand and Australia implementing the ‘travel bubble’ or safe travel corridor between countries and hopefully, Malaysia too can see this happening soon,” he said in a statement.

The three major airlines of Malaysia – Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Malindo Air – have opened up local flight routes and have increased its offer aggressively to urge Malaysians to take a break and experience local travel after three months of staying at home.

MAHB said that this is in addition to the enhanced safety protocols for travel at the airport and onboard flights to ensure that its well-being is safeguarded.