“We want to be able to accommodate 16 million passengers a year,” he told FMT. “Penang has the appeal to draw in those numbers, be it for business or leisure.”

“Expanding PIA to meet this capacity will take further time, planning and resources. So it is crucial that we start with this first expansion as soon as possible.”

Referring to the Penang government’s approval for the immediate expansion, he said MAHB was ready to begin work early next year.

“Once we have completed the expansion,” he said, “PIA will have 21 aircraft stands and be able to cater to 4,500 passengers per hour. It will have a capacity for 12 million passengers, nearly twice its current capacity.”

The airport can currently accommodate 13 aircraft stands and 6.5 million passengers a year.

Raja Azmi said the expansion would be complete by early 2024.

“The good news is that the expansion work will not affect flights in and out of the island,” he said.

Check-in counters will be increased from 61 to 78 and immigration counters will be increased from 12 counters each for arrival and departure to 28 each.

There will be 1,300 new car parking bays to add to the current 850.

Raja Azmi said MAHB was aware of Penang’s air connectivity needs and this was why it was already planning another upgrade.

He said he was confident that the expansion would boost the economies of Penang and Malaysia.

“There is a lot of interest from airlines around the world to fly directly into Penang, and PIA’s expansion will help facilitate more air traffic into the island.”

He said it would also improve connectivity to other parts of the country, particularly the northern corridor, and would thereby act as an economic catalyst for the northern states.