SHAH ALAM, Dec 16 — Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) aims to see positive growth for Malaysia’s aviation sector and in the number of passengers next year.

Its Managing Director, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, said even though there would be headwinds, the actions taken by the government would help boost growth in the nation’s 39 airports.

“For this year, the growth is about five per cent in terms of the number of passengers. The government has also negotiated more traffic rights for Malaysian carriers and set to attract nine million Chinese arrivals by 2020.

“All these factors will work well for the growth of the airports next year even through the currency issues will effect the airlines’ profits.

“This is something we have to be concerned about,” he told reporters after the presentation of prizes to Eraman Shopping Extravaganza Shop & Win contest winners here today. 

Badlisham said with the growth in leisure travel, MAHB anticipated more aggressive airfare pricings next year.

He said MAHB was confident that with the growth in passenger traffic, the country’s airports would achieve double-digit growth next year.           

On the Langkawi International Airport, Badlisham said, several carriers from China had agreed to operate at the airport.

On the Eraman contest, he said, more than half of MAHB’s total revenue came from the non-airport business.

Eraman itself contributed alot to Malaysia’s airports, he said.

“So it is important to us to continue hold these kinds of campaigns and contests to reward our loyal customers when they buy duty-free items at the airports,” he said. — Bernama