Date: 27 December 2012
Penang International Airport fully operational early 2013.
KUALA LUMPUR: The RM250mil Penang International Airport
(PIA) expansion project is 99 per cent complete and will be fully operational
by early next year, says Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.
He said the ministry was very pleased with the progress,
thus far, although there were some delay due to unforeseen circumstances.
Speaking to Bernama after attending a briefing by Malaysia
Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) at Malaysia's third busiest airport, he said many
constraints were experienced during the renovation work as arrival and
departure operations had to continue uninterrupted.
In certain areas, renovation work could only be carried out
from midnight to early morning but constant security was maintained at the
airport. The expansion of PIA is being funded by MAHB's internally-generated
funds to increase passenger handling capacity to six million people per year or
almost double the current capacity.
When completed, it will encompass the state-of-the-art
architecture, facilities and interior design to provide better comfort level to
airlines and passengers alike.
Rahim said the modernisation project, carried out with the
approval of the Federal government, would cater to the rapid expansion of
low-cost carriers in Asean including Malindo Airways which would commence
operations next year.
He said passenger arrival was expected to surge from 2015
onwards when stage five of the open sky liberalisation policy is implemented
among Asean nations.
Rahim said the Penang International Airport was the northern
aviation hub that handled direct international flights. "The Federal
government's earnestness in modernising the Penang International Airport proves
that the Barisan Nasional leadership always honoured its promises to the people
in line with the slogan 'Promises Fulfilled' which is central to Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's leadership," he added. BERNAMA
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