Kuala Lumpur is rapidly establishing itself as a significant aviation hub in Southeast Asia, challenging the long-standing dominance of Bangkok and Singapore.
While Bangkok serves as the main entry point to Thailand, one of the world’s most visited countries, and Singapore acts as a global business hub, Kuala Lumpur is making strides, particularly in international travel within the region.
AirAsia, the region’s leading budget airline, headquartered in Malaysia’s commercial capital, has been instrumental in this shift. The airline recently launched or resumed flights from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Chiang Rai in Thailand, known for the White Temple, and Dalat in Vietnam, famous for its temperate climate and scenic mountains. These new routes highlight the ongoing collaboration between AirAsia and Tourism Malaysia to promote Malaysia as a prime travel destination within the ASEAN region.
According to aviation industry analysts OAG, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was ranked the world’s second most connected airport in August, just behind London Heathrow. The rankings were based on the number of scheduled connections to and from international flights and the number of destinations served. KLIA’s 137 destinations placed it slightly behind Bangkok Suvarnabhumi’s 154 and Singapore Changi’s 150, but it led in terms of connections within Southeast Asia.
AirAsia is the dominant airline at KLIA, operating 35% of flights to and from the two-terminal hub. This dominance has significantly contributed to KLIA’s connectivity, making it a crucial layover point for travellers flying from Europe and the Middle East to Australia and the Pacific.
The rise of Kuala Lumpur as an aviation hub is further evidenced by its inclusion in OAG’s list of the world’s most connected airports. Alongside KLIA, Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta and Manila’s airport also made the top 50, underscoring the growing importance of Southeast Asian airports in global travel networks.