Kuala lumpur: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) projects the arrival of three new international airlines to Kuala Lumpur by the end of 2026, enhancing the city's status as a regional aviation hub. This development complements Lufthansa Airlines' planned return to Kuala Lumpur this October.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MAHB's managing director, Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani, shared that the inclusion of these airlines, including Lufthansa, underscores the growing connectivity at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1. The details of the upcoming airlines will be announced soon, as mentioned during MAHB's official visit to Wisma Bernama.

During the visit, Mohd Izani and the MAHB management were warmly received by Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, and Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj. The gathering presented a valuable opportunity for MAHB and Bernama to exchange ideas and explore collaborative opportunities.

Additionally, Mohd Izani emphasized that MAHB remains vigilant about external challenges such as uncertain weather and geopolitical tensions, which could affect operations. Nonetheless, the focus remains on maintaining air connectivity and promoting Malaysia as a travel destination. Despite the crisis in West Asia impacting operations, air traffic figures showed improvement in July, with expectations for continued growth through the end of the year.

Mohd Izani also expressed support for the government's announcement of 2027 as Visit Malaysia Year, highlighting the potential benefits for KLIA and the nation in reinforcing its position as a gateway for international tourists. In the first half of financial year 2026, MAHB recorded 51 million passenger movements across its Malaysian airport network, marking a 1.8 percent increase from the same period last year, driven by robust international travel demand despite weaker domestic traffic.