In need of an upgrade: Local and international tourists seen at Penang International Airport. The airport’s expansion will increase the terminal’s annual handling capacity from 6.5 million passengers to 12 million passengers annually. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: The RM93mil allocation for the Penang International Airport (PIA) expansion project will serve as a catalyst to woo visitors during Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the expansion was timely, and once ready, will see an increase in tourist arrivals, especially during peak travelling season in December 2026.
“We hope that the PIA expansion project will take off sooner than the 2024 date announced by the ministry.
“Penang will still benefit from VMY2026 with the publicity and promotion spillover effect over time,” he said yesterday.
Recently, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, in his written reply in Parliament to Batu Kawan MP Chow Kon Yeow, said that the government had granted approval for an allocation of RM93mil to facilitate land acquisition and infrastructure for the PIA expansion.
“The allocation falls under the framework of Rolling Plan 3 (RP3) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
“The allocation specifically focuses on land acquisition, including compensation payments and the replacement of government quarters, as well as infrastructure development,” the statement said.
Wong said the state government would work closely with Malaysia Airport Berhad and the Immigration Department to see how they can manage the flow of people at the airport during the construction time, so that there will be no adverse impact on travellers.
“We will also work with airlines and cruises to attract more leisure and business travellers.
“We have a lot of programmes in the pipeline such as art, culture, cuisine, historical, nature and many more,” he said.
Wong said the last time the country had a full-fledged Visit Malaysia Year was in 2014.
“For the upcoming VMY2026, digital promotions and the tourism landscape have changed since many now have opted to arrange their travels through the online platform.
“Our places of attractions, public amenities, and hospitality skills will have to improve and be upgraded so that Malaysia can offer a new experience for visitors, be it for first-timers or seasoned travellers,” he said.
The expansion of PIA will increase the terminal’s annual handling capacity from 6.5 million passengers to 12 million passengers annually.
The 87-year-old airport has undergone several infrastructure expansions over the years, with its first in 1977.
It was fully operational in 1979 with a capacity to accommodate 1.5 million passengers.
The airport was expanded and upgraded in 1998 to accommodate 3.5 million passengers.
In 2013, PIA was upgraded to increase its capacity to 6.5 million passengers per annum.
However, passenger growth surged and by 2019, it had increased to 8.3 million passengers per annum, leading to overcrowding and many calls to further upgrade the airport.
