THE total passenger movement at the Penang International Airport (PIA) has increased by 7.59% last year (2018) as compared to 2017.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the airport was facing a logistic constraint to grow the tourism sector.
“The passenger movement figures are increasing each year and has gone beyond the airport’s 6.5 million capacity.
“It has recorded 7.78 million passenger movement last year as compared to 7.232 million in 2017.
“How are we able to grow the tourism sector when we are unable to attract new airlines to Penang or allow existing airlines to increase their flight frequencies?
“The airport is unable to provide more ‘slots’ for direct flights unless it is in the wee hours of the morning. Who wants to depart or land in a city at that time?” he asked.
Chow said that Penang was still waiting for the ‘good news’ from the relevant authorities.
“Although several parties have briefed the state government on the proposed airport expansion, there is still no final decision made.
“The proposal by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to increase the PIA’s capacity to 12 million passengers a year, was made even before the last General Election.
“The (Transport) Minister has informed us that the ministry is looking at matters relating to airport concession and management.
“We are still awaiting the Federal’s decision as to when will the PIA expansion be carried out.
“We hope that the decision can be made as soon as possible, this year,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
Meanwhile, Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan said the PIA enjoyed a double-digit growth of 15.21% in its total international arrivals last year (2018) as compared to 2017.
“The airport recorded 1.782 million total international arrivals last year (2018) as compared to 1.546 million in 2017,” Ooi said.
He also mentioned last year’s new direct flights and flights with increased frequencies.
The new direct flights to Penang last year (2018) were from Hanoi, Phuket, Doha, Banda Aceh, Jakarta, Nanning and Surabaya.
The flights with increased frequencies were from Hong Kong, Doha, Taipei, Phuket and Jakarta.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis