KUCHING: Malaysia recorded 169,877 international flights offering more than 34.2 million seats in 2025, with expanded air connectivity contributing to more than 42 million international visitor arrivals during the year,
Dayak Daily reported.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the growth in international air services supported Malaysia’s inbound tourism performance in 2025.
He said reliable air connectivity remains a key component of the tourism sector by enabling easier access for international travellers and contributing to higher visitor arrivals.
“Malaysia added 89 new air routes in 2025, comprising 59 scheduled routes and 30 charter services, linking 23 countries and regions to 11 airports nationwide,” he said.
He said China accounted for the largest share of the new connections with 18 scheduled routes and 20 charter services linking 23 Chinese cities with Malaysian airports.
Indonesia followed with 10 scheduled routes, while Singapore added five scheduled routes and two charter services.
On the Malaysian side, the routes served 11 airports including Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Subang Airport in the Klang Valley, Kota Kinabalu and Tawau in Sabah, and Kuching and Miri in Sarawak.
Other airports benefiting from the expansion included Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Langkawi and Kota Bahru, while 92 airlines operated 498 international routes to Malaysia in 2025, providing 169,877 flights and 34,203,168 seats throughout the year.
