SEPANG – KL International Airport (KLIA) is advising visitors attending the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from 2 to 4 October 2026 to use public transportation, as a significant increase in traffic and vehicle movements is expected throughout the race weekend.

More than 200,000 spectators are expected at SIC over the three-day event, with daily crowds anticipated to exceed 100,000. Parking at KLIA Terminal 1 and the KLIA Long Term Car Park is extremely limited and is expected to reach full capacity early each day. Race-goers are strongly advised not to drive to KLIA with the intention of parking there to travel to SIC, and to plan alternative arrangements.

Visitors are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance and use the Express Rail Link (ERL) services, including KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit, as well as e-hailing services to arrive at KLIA Terminals 1 and 2.

For those attending the F1 event, free shuttle bus services to SIC will be available from KLIA Terminal 2, KLIA Long Term Car Park and Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA.

KLIA also reminds passengers travelling by air during the F1 weekend to allow additional travel time when making their journey to the airport, as heavy traffic is expected on major roads leading to KLIA. The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will be implementing traffic diversions from 8.00am to 11.00pm daily during the three-day event and road users are urged to use alternative routes where directed. Passengers are encouraged to check the latest traffic and travel advisories from KLIA, PDRM and SIC before commencing their journey.

KLIA will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and stakeholders to facilitate traffic flow and prioritise the smooth movement of passengers during the race weekend.

SEPANG – KLIA further expanded its international airline network today with the launch of Gulf Air’s inaugural direct service between Bahrain and Kuala Lumpur. The arrival of flight GF158 from Bahrain International Airport (BAH), operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, marks Gulf Air as the 10th Middle Eastern carrier serving KLIA. The year-round service strengthens connectivity between Malaysia, Bahrain and the wider Middle East, while offering greater travel convenience ahead of Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026, scheduled to take place at the Sepang International Circuit from 2 to 4 October 2026.

Operating three times weekly, the service adds capacity and offers greater flexibility for travellers, including motorsport fans. Its launch is also timely for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), with the enhanced connectivity expected to support increased visitor arrivals and contribute to wider tourism and economic activity across the country.

Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, said, “We welcome Gulf Air to KLIA at a timely moment, ahead of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 and during Visit Malaysia 2026. With an increase in international visitors expected, we are ready to manage the higher passenger volumes and have operational plans in place across both terminals. These include optimising passenger flows, coordinating closely with airlines and relevant government agencies, and strengthening on-ground support to ensure a smooth and welcoming arrival experience. We value Gulf Air’s commitment to this year-round service and look forward to growing our partnership.”

The new service further strengthens KLIA’s role as Malaysia’s primary international gateway, providing travellers from Bahrain and the wider region with convenient access to Kuala Lumpur and onward domestic connections to destinations including Langkawi, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak. This is expected to support leisure, business and event-driven travel, including visitors attending Formula 1 in Sepang, while extending tourism benefits to destinations across Malaysia.

SEPANG – Passenger traffic across Malaysia Airports' local network increased for the second consecutive month to reach 8.4 million in August 2026, the highest monthly volume recorded since March.

The 5.2% month-on-month increase was supported by both domestic and international travel. Domestic traffic rebounded from the decline recorded in July, rising 6.7% to 3.7 million passengers, while international traffic continued its upward movements with a 4.1% increase to 4.7 million passengers. This resulted in a more balanced traffic performance compared with the preceding month, when growth was driven mainly by international travel.

For the first eight months of 2026, Malaysia Airports' local network handled 67.4 million passengers, comprising 37.0 million international and 30.4 million domestic passengers.

At Group level, including Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Malaysia Airports handled 13.6 million passengers in August, an increase of 5.8% from July. The Istanbul operation handled 5.2 million passengers, up 6.8% month-on-month, bringing total Group traffic for the first eight months of 2026 to 101.3 million.

The increase was also reflected across several major gateways. KL International Airport (KLIA) handled 5.2 million passengers, up 3.8% from July. Kota Kinabalu and Kuching International Airports recorded stronger month-on-month increases of 12.0% and 10.8% respectively, while Penang International Airport registered a 2.3% increase.

Passenger connectivity expanded further during the month with TransNusa commencing a daily direct service between Bandar Lampung, Indonesia and KLIA Terminal 1 on 24 August. Operated using a 95-seat COMAC C909 aircraft, the service provides a new direct link between Malaysia and Indonesia's Lampung province.

More broadly, KLIA's established network strength was recently recognised in the OAG 2026 Megahubs Index, where it retained its position as the world's fourth most connected international airport and Asia Pacific's most connected Megahub.

Malaysia Airports Group Managing Director, Dato' Mohd Izani Ghani, said, "The broader increase across domestic and international travel shows that passenger activity strengthened across the network in August. The continued expansion of airline connectivity and KLIA's standing among the world's leading Megahubs reinforce Malaysia's role as an important regional aviation gateway.

"As passenger volumes and connectivity grow, our responsibility is to ensure that the airport experience develops alongside them. Growth must be supported by reliable facilities and service standards that give passengers confidence throughout their journey."

Beginning this month, the KLIA Monthly Performance Report will be published on the Malaysia Airports official website. The report reflects the Group's commitment to elevating service delivery and providing greater transparency on the performance of key passenger touchpoints at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, particularly as passenger traffic and connectivity continue to grow.

The performance targets and monthly results in the report are drawn from the Quality of Service (QoS) Framework regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), as well as internal performance metrics .

August 2026 results showed that overall airport satisfaction remained high at 99.7% across both terminals, while passenger satisfaction with washrooms remained at 100%.

Measures introduced to improve passenger movement also continued to show positive results. Passenger satisfaction with kerbside congestion reached 100% at both terminals following the implementation of the Vehicle Access Management System to improve traffic circulation and reduce prolonged vehicle dwell times.

At Terminal 1, the Aerotrain achieved 100% compliance in August against the prescribed Quality of Service target for two-train service availability. This follows the completion of the Comprehensive Action Plan in May 2026, which included system-wide inspections and rectification, recalibration, stress testing, endurance runs and enhanced maintenance and monitoring.

Passenger processing remained strong, supported by improvements to screening layouts and passenger flow. All measured centralised security queues at Terminal 1, and 99.8% at Terminal 2 were completed within the prescribed 10-minute threshold.

The monthly report will provide a consistent view of performance across key passenger touchpoints and help focus further service improvements at both terminals.

https://corporate.malaysiaairports.com.my/en/about-us/reports/operating-statistics

SEPANG - KL International Airport (KLIA) continues to strengthen its role as a gateway between Asia and the world, retaining its position as the world’s fourth most connected international airport and Asia Pacific’s most connected Megahub, according to OAG’s 2026 Megahubs Index.

According to OAG, KLIA’s capacity grew by 6.9%, supported by the expansion of its airline network. The airport has welcomed 7 new scheduled airlines and 9 new routes to date, opening new connections to destinations including Riyadh, Algeria and Jinan, whilst Malaysia Airlines has also strengthened links with Japan through its new direct Fukuoka to Kuala Lumpur service. Expansion is set to continue with the scheduled entry into service later this year of Gulfair, Hainan Airlines, Zipair, Thai Vietjet and Lufthansa, also set to return in October connecting Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur with five weekly frequencies.

Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, said growth at KLIA is not simply about adding more destinations, but about ensuring the airport continues to deliver a seamless experience as passenger traffic, airlines and connectivity grow.

“KLIA’s standing among the world’s most connected Megahubs reflects the strength and breadth of our aviation network, built through the combined efforts of our airline partners, airport teams and industry stakeholders. But growth is meaningful only when it is matched by the right experience and the right capacity to support it. That is why our focus at KLIA goes beyond connectivity. We are working across the entire passenger journey to make KLIA more convenient, efficient and welcoming. Our ambition is to further strengthen KLIA’s position as the most connected Megahub in Asia Pacific, while ensuring that our service excellence keeps pace with that growth.”

That commitment to service excellence is reflected in a wider programme of improvements across KLIA. Recent initiatives include upgraded check-in and self service bag drop facilities, enhanced kerbside traffic management through the Vehicle Access Management System (VAMS) and new e-hailing system at Terminal 1, additional passenger trolleys, complimentary wheelchairs and baby strollers, family friendly facilities, and the new Calm Room and Harimau Playground at Terminal 2.

Meanwhile, new attractions such as RIMBA and the Heritage Walls are enhancing the airport experience, bringing nature and culture inspired spaces into the passenger journey.

With a stronger network, enhanced passenger experience and investments in capacity, KLIA is ready to embrace the opportunities ahead and continue connecting Malaysia to more people, places and possibilities around the world.