by BERNAMA / pic by TMR FILE

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) expects 20 new international destinations and 80 additional domestic flights would boost air travel further for its network of airports, including the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISG) in Turkey.

In a statement today, MAHB said the new destinations include Hamburg, Basel, Zurich, Sarajevo, Copenhagen, Lyon, and Hannover for flights from ISG with up to 25 weekly frequencies.

Group chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said although Malaysia and Turkey still imposed travel restrictions, the airport operator remains optimistic as the demand for air travel is still prevalent based on the continuous new flight offerings by airlines.

“We continue to step up our services to prepare for the return of travellers as we gradually recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the first quarter of this year, the KL International Airport (KLIA) continues to excel in the global Airport Service Quality benchmark and achieved a preliminary score of 4.99 out of 5.00, topping the 4.98 score achieved in 2020,” he said.

He added that the group has also enhanced its safety and health standards through the global Airport Health Accreditation programme.

“Six more of our international airports, including KLIA, are expected to be certified by the end of the second quarter,” he said.

At KLIA, Malaysia Airlines has reinstated destinations such as London and Jakarta, and added 80 additional flight frequencies to its domestic destinations which had increased KLIA’s total domestic weekly frequencies by 26.7 per cent.