SEPANG: Langkawi’s ambitions to strengthen its standing as a premier regional tourism destination will depend heavily on attracting more direct international flights.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said the island has the potential to emulate successful tourism hubs such as Indonesia’s Bali and Thailand’s Phuket, both of which benefit from extensive international air connectivity.
“Langkawi has all the right ingredients to be a world-class destination, but one area we need to improve is direct international access.
“Countries and destinations like Bali and Phuket have built strong tourism ecosystems around direct connectivity. We want to see Langkawi move in that direction as well,“ he told SunBiz.
Mohd Izani said increasing international connectivity to the island is among the initiatives being discussed under Project GEAR-uP, a federal government programme aimed at strengthening economic growth and competitiveness.
As part of the effort, MAHB is working closely with the Ministry of Finance, federal agencies, the Kedah state government and other stakeholders to develop incentive programmes to encourage more airlines to launch routes to Langkawi.
“We recently discussed under Project GEAR-uP how we can bring more direct flights into Langkawi. This will require collaboration between the federal government, the state government, airports and the aviation industry. We need to create the right incentive structure to attract airlines and make Langkawi a more compelling destination for international carriers,“ Mohd Izani said.
He noted that Langkawi already receives seasonal charter flights from parts of Europe, including Poland, particularly during the winter period. However, he believes there is scope to convert such services into regular scheduled operations.
“At the moment, we have charter flights coming from Europe, including Poland, during the winter season. The next step is to see how we can turn those charter services into scheduled flights.
“Scheduled services provide greater certainty and frequency, which are important in building sustainable tourism growth and attracting more visitors throughout the year,“ Mohd Izani said.
He added that stronger international connectivity would not only support the tourism sector but also generate wider economic benefits for Langkawi and the surrounding region through increased visitor spending, business activity and investment opportunities.
Moving on, the MAHBmanaging director said Langkawi’s tourism gaps are now moving into sharper focus, with two key issues beyond air connectivity that need to be addressed: state-level coordination and a lack of mid- to lower-tier accommodation.
Efforts to boost Langkawi’s profile will require stronger collaboration from the Kedah state government, particularly in developing incentives to attract airlines and expand direct routes.
“I don’t want to make it political, but we need to be honest – the engagement from the state has not been as aggressive as it should be.
“Still, we are not giving up. I am arranging a meeting with the Kedah State Tourism authorities so we can work together, like what we have done with other states,“ Mohd Izani said.
Improved coordination among federal and state authorities, along with airport stakeholders, is critical if Langkawi is to secure more airline partnerships and long-term route commitments, he stressed.
“These things only work if everyone comes together – federal, state and airport. Only then can we build a proper incentive structure for airlines.”
Beyond connectivity, Mohd Izani highlighted a structural gap in Langkawi’s tourism offerings, particularly in accommodation outside the luxury segment.
While the island has seen strong growth in high-end resorts such as St Regis, Four Seasons and Sheraton, he said, demand for mid-tier and budget options remains insufficient. “Right now, Langkawi is quite strong at the top end, but there is not enough supply for mid-tier and lower-tier tourists. That segment is important, especially for regional and domestic travellers.”
On visitor experience, Mohd Izani said complaints about unregulated tourism services and scams have become a concern, with some incidents reportedly occurring even at airport arrivals.
To address this, MAHB is proposing a centralised platform for verified tourism operators, ranging from island-hopping services to adventure activities such as paragliding.
“We want only trusted operators to be listed on our platform. Tourists should be able to book with confidence,“ Mohd Izani said.
Under the proposal, registered operators would also be given access to designated airport booths, allowing arriving passengers to make bookings and payments directly upon landing.
“There were complaints about scams, even at the airport level. This is something we need to fix quickly. If it works in Langkawi, we want to replicate the model in Kota Bharu, Tawau and Kota Kinabalu. It can become a national standard,“ Mohd Izani said.
He drew attention to the fact that Langkawi airport was recently named the Best Airport in Asia-Pacific in the two-to-five-million-passenger category by Airports Council International, marking its fifth consecutive win.
The achievement Mohd Izani said, reflects the airport team’s commitment to maintaining high service standards while preserving Langkawi’s unique identity as a resort destination.
“When Langkawi won the award for the fourth time, I visited the team and told them it would be great if we could make it five in a row. Thankfully, we achieved that,“ he added.
The airport’s reputation was strengthened at the recent Routes Asia event in Xi’an, China, where it was once again recognised as one of the region’s top airports.
Mohd Izani said the airport’s appeal goes beyond operational excellence. “Langkawi is different because it is a resort island. The airport should immediately make visitors feel like they are on holiday.”
He revealed that MAHB had considered installing passenger boarding bridges but ultimately decided against the idea, so as to preserve the arrival experience.
“When passengers step off the aircraft, they can see the blue skies, the mountains and the surroundings straight away. That first impression is part of the Langkawi experience.
“We want visitors to feel they have arrived somewhere special the moment they land,“ Mohd Izani said.
He added that the terminal has been designed to showcase Langkawi’s attractions and natural beauty, creating a strong sense of place from the moment passengers enter the airport.
