PENANG is actively seeking to enhance its air connectivity with the world’s major cities to promote economic growth.
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin is focused on identifying new flight routes and initiatives that could connect Penang to other major destinations, given the increasing number of travellers returning to air travel.
“I have been engaging with various airlines over the past few years to explore new flight routes in different regions of the world despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
“The recent announcement of the expansion and upgrading project of the Penang International Airport (PIA) by the Federal Government is a significant step towards catering to more than 12 million passengers annually and accommodating increased traffic in the coming years.
“The expansion of PIA will provide Penang with a competitive position to increase passenger traffic and turn the state into a better-connected aviation hub globally,” Yeoh said in a statement.
Yeoh added that he was keen on improving customer experience at the airport in addition to boosting air connectivity.
“The confidence in post-pandemic tourism recovery is growing.
“The airport should focus on providing a better customer experience to position Penang as one of the vacation capitals of Asia,” he said.
Yeoh emphasised that the level of cleanliness at the airport should not be compromised.
“The airport operator must keep up-to-date with the latest facilities and services provided at other international airports to ensure passengers’ safety and hygiene are at par with global standards,” he added.
Story by Christopher Tan