Penang International Airport expansion approved, to be completed by 2024
The state government opted for the expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA) rather than build a new one on reclaimed land in the south as it could not afford to delay the project.
State Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the State Planning Committee (SPC) in a meeting in March indicated that a new airport could be built on a reclaimed island off Batu Maung.
“However, current events had superseded such a suggestion, and we have to move fast to cater to the increased capacity and go ahead with the PIA expansion, ” said Jagdeep in announcing the expansion of PIA at the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department office in Wisma Boustead here yesterday.
The Star had reported that the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had given the green light to Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to go ahead with the expansion, which would increase the present passenger capacity from six million to 12 million passengers. He said MBPP had approved the planning permission for PIA’s expansion on Dec 3, adding that the project was expected to kick off in March next year.
Jagdeep said a bigger northern corridor international airport that could cater to the three northern states of Penang, Kedah and Perlis could be considered in the future.
Consultant architect AHS Architects Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Abu Hassan Salleh, who was also present, said the expansion would increase the terminal’s gross floor area to 113,005sq m from 54,582sq m.
“The new design will have the capacity to accommodate 12 million passengers per year, while the two-way passenger peak-hour capacity will increase to 4,391 from 2,553 currently and would be able to accommodate 25 commercial aircraft.
“The Air Traffic Control Tower, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, Meteorological Station, the Airport Fire Rescue Service station and aviation apron will be relocated to the new terminal with the number of parking bays to be increased to 1,800 bays from 1,218 at present, ” he said.
Abu Hassan said the estimated cost of the project, to be completed in 2024, was RM800mil, but it could be higher due to the demolishing and rebuilding of certain structures of the airport building.
“While we are looking at the gridlock and congestion as the work progresses, it could be controlled, as work on the main terminal will only be in the last phase, ” he added, when asked if the congestion would get worse during the expansion.
PIA has been bursting at its seams for some time, where it surpassed its maximum annual capacity of 6.5 million passengers middle of this year. The present PIA is the country’s oldest airport, having been built in 1935 when Penang was part of the British-ruled Straits Settlement.
It underwent a major upgrade in 1979 to accommodate Boeing 747s, then the largest planes in the world. The terminal saw two significant facelifts in 2009 and 2013.
Source: TheStar.com.my
[The terminal saw two significant facelifts in 2009 and 2013.]
Yeah, we are only good at doing facelift/superficial work !
Jagdeep said a bigger northern corridor international airport that could cater to the three northern states of Penang, Kedah and Perlis could be considered in the future……it is on the way already…..it is the kulim airport….economic planning unit approved and funds allocated….our PM’s gift to his son.
@maverick
Kulim airport will be 100% private we were told.
But a airport is not a airport without proper highway and mrt linking it to various towns and cities.
Klia is a good example of a airport still incomplete as no mrt linking it to shah alam, klang, seremban, malacca and putra heights. So 30k airport workers will find it expensive and inaccesible as well as 40 million passengers.
One thing I do not understand, why are penangites so petty about a bigger airport being built in Kulim? Penang will not loose it’s shine just because there is a bigger and newer airport located 1.5 hours away from it instead of the usual smaller airport 30 mins away, just like KLIA/subang airport scenario, in which KL is still the No.1 city.
The biggest loosers, in terms of “missed opportunities”, would probably be the old rich in Penang, who are normally well connected into the eco-system of mega construction contracts, being usually the recipients of big construction contracts in Penang, of which the sub-contracts are subsequently shared among their own clans/cronies.
Example, SRS Consortium, a joint venture entity formed to be the project delivery partner for Pan Island Link Highway, Penang South Reclamation, Penang Transport Master Plan, consists of Gamuda + Loh Family + Ideal Gang. Can you imagine how much money Loh family will make by just selling sand from their millions of acres of useless hills in Langkawi to fill up 3 super big reclamation islands down south? Useless dirt becomes gold!!!!
@chintuaki
travelling 1.5 hours or thrice the current time to the airport? no way..i will pick a airport closer to home anytime..it doesnt bother me whether it is big or small as long as it function efficiently..
and it is not about shine, it is about connectivity and efficient movement of people and cargo that serve the businesses and industries on the island, it is about its impact on leisure and medical tourism… also it is insane to give up Penang’s initiative over air transportation to other state..nobody mind an extra airport in Kedah that serve kedah people …we will see how many airline will fly there…
Fully agree
@chintuaki
How sure are you on this? you can 100% confirm penang will not loose it shine. Don’t BullShit without any data to proof your point.
@chintuaki
Sand pump from sea bed lah
Chinsayki
Looks like Chung San and all the other houses along the air strip will have to make way for the expansion soon.
@triangle
Suka suka pump then Spore no need to buy sand from malaysia to reclaim their land already lah! Aiyo, use your brain lah, don’t simply listen to these people with vested interest, these rich people are only interested in making more money for themselves by manipulating the media and our minds, and couldn’t care less about little people like us.
This BSG so rich already still thinking of more ways to suck the last drop of blood out of us. Never take good care of it’s construction site, ended up killing so many hard working innocent construction workers, but still can take part in such super mega project, where is justice?????????
@chintuaki
sure boh sand from langkawi?? the reclaim land is south path of penang
u dont know where is langkawi?? Gilalah U.
Penang want to develop u peh! peh! here….