PENANG International Airport’s expansion is set to start in June next year, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

In a parliamentary reply to Tanjung MP Chow Kon Yeow, who is Penang chief minister, he said the expansion would take 36 months to complete.

“MAHB (Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd) has appointed a consultant on February 15 through open tender.

“The consultant is now working on the designs,” he said in his reply to Chow yesterday.

The expansion will enable the airport to handle 12 million passengers a year. The current airport is only designed to take up to 6.5 million passengers year.

But last year, the Penang airport in Bayan Lepas already hit 7.8 million passengers, serving 120% over its capacity.

Loke said the Transport Ministry was committed to solving the issue and was considering several options to expand the Penang airport.

He also said his ministry, as well as the Finance Ministry and MAHB, were studying suitable development and financing models to ensure a cost-effective expansion.

In his question, Chow also asked the ministry about the current status of the proposed Kulim airport in neighbouring Kedah.

Loke said the government supported logistics growth in Kedah and the airport proposal would be tabled at the National Physical Planning Unit.

Penang is concerned that the Kulim airport, if it takes off, can affect the state’s economy and logistics business.

Penang also has its own plans to build a second international airport on a reclaimed island in the future. – March 13, 2019.