PHASE One of the expansion of Penang International Airport is nearing completion, with 98% of works already achieved, tourism stakeholders were told during a recent industry briefing.
Penang executive councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy Wong Hon Wai convened the session to update tourism industry players on the airport’s expansion progress as well as several new facility upgrades.
Speaking at the briefing, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Head of Commercial at Penang International Airport, Muhammad Najib Nasaruddin, said the overall expansion plan is divided into three phases.
“Phase One, which covers ancillary buildings and related works, has reached 98% completion. Phase Two, which involves constructing the apron and other airside facilities, is 54% complete. Phase Three, which will involve the construction of the main terminal building and associated works, has yet to commence,” he said.
Wong said it was important for tourism stakeholders to remain well-informed about developments at the airport.
“Hoteliers, attraction operators, tour guides and travel agents are all key frontline personnel in Penang’s tourism industry. It is essential to provide timely updates on the airport’s expansion and facility upgrades so that stakeholders can stay informed and better communicate relevant information to visitors,” he said.
Wong also highlighted three recent facility upgrades introduced at the airport to improve passenger experience.
Firstly, a new autogate system has been implemented for immigration clearance, serving travellers from 73 countries and regions for departures and 65 for arrivals. The number of autogates is scheduled to increase to 12 each by the end of this year to accommodate growing passenger traffic.
Secondly, a new e-hailing pickup zone has been established on the ground floor of the car park opposite the main terminal. The zone includes electronic display boards showing real-time information on arriving vehicles, an air-conditioned waiting area and service counters for e-hailing providers.
The facility helps visitors book rides through mobile apps while addressing the issue of inconsistent pickup points.
Thirdly, the Malaysia National Integrated Immigration System (MyNIISe) has been introduced at the airport. The system allows travellers to complete immigration clearance by scanning a QR code and also enables users to view their personal entry and exit records.
“With the implementation of MyNIISe, there are currently three methods for immigration clearance at the airport: passport scanning at autogates, MyNIISe QR code scanning at autogates, or manual clearance at counters,” Wong said.
Wong noted that passenger traffic at the airport has been steadily increasing. In 2025, the airport recorded 8.31 million passenger movements, up 11.25% from 7.47 million in 2024.
Currently, the airport handles an average of 22,000 passenger movements daily, comprising about 10,000 domestic and 12,000 international passengers.
The airport also averages 179 aircraft movements daily and about 1,253 weekly, underscoring its importance as a regional aviation hub.
Wong added that the airport’s expansion plan includes increasing its aircraft parking capacity.
“At present, the airport has 16 parking aprons, which are no longer sufficient with the growing number of flights. Under the expansion plan, 12 additional parking aprons will be built,” he said.
The additional aprons will comprise six contact stands connected directly to the terminal and six remote stands. Once completed, the total number of parking aprons at the airport will increase to 28.
Wong said the additional infrastructure will strengthen the airport’s operational capacity and support the continued growth of Penang’s tourism sector.
Looking ahead, he said the state government will continue to work closely with the tourism industry to enhance Penang’s tourism ecosystem and ensure the state remains ready to welcome more domestic and international visitors.
Among those present at the briefing were Penang director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dr Annuar Mohamed; Tourism Malaysia Northern Regional Office director Abdul Hadi; Malaysian Association of Hotels (Penang Chapter) chairman Tony Goh; Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association (Penang Chapter) chairman Andy Lau; Association of Tourism Attractions Penang chairman Ch’ng Huck Theng; Tourist Guide Association president Clement Liang; and Penang Bumiputera Travel Agencies Association deputy secretary Shahrul Azalan.
Pix courtesy of the Penang Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) office