SEPANG, June 29 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), including the Low Cost Carrier Terminal, registered passenger movement of 16 million until May this year, up 5.1 per cent from the same period a year ago.

Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohd Ali, Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd Chief Operating Officer, said this is a good sign that KLIA is capable of achieving 40 million passengers towards the end of the year, compared with 37.7 million last year and 34.1 million in 2010.

"For the first quarter of this year, KLIA recorded a 6.9 per cent growth in passenger movement to 9.53 million from 8.92 million in the same quarter last year," he told reporters at KLIA's 14th anniversary celebration here today.

He said KLIA has a capacity of 25 million passengers currently, while that of LCCT is at 18 million to 20 million passengers, hence the new KLIA 2 is needed to accommodate the increase in passenger movement every year.

He said KLIA's capacity can be increased to 70 million passengers upon full completion of KLIA 2.

"When KLIA 2 is completed, LCCT will be closed and all low-cost flights will be transferred to KLIA 2, because we have provided the complete infrastructure to accommodate the low cost carriers," he said.

On the anniversary celebration, he said KLIA has proven its role to be among excellent airports and received various recognitions locally and internationally.