The airport was due for an urgent upgrade as it recorded over eight million passenger movements per year pre-pandemic. It was designed for a maximum of 6.5 million passengers per year.

During Pakatan Harapan’s administration, an expansion was approved to double the capacity.

However, the present government has decided to not build or expand any airport until 2025, when the aviation sector is expected to recover, the Dewan Rakyat heard yesterday.

In a statement, Penang executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin said such a move lacked foresight when it was a known fact that travel would boom once restrictions were lifted.

He said that in Penang’s case, a congested airport would only cause the state to further suffer from reduced tourism.

Yeoh said Putrajaya’s “bungling” of the airport expansion would only risk hurting the air travel ecosystem, with Penang being one of the most highly traversed airports in the country.

“Without an expansion, the Penang airport will not have adequate capacity to host the potential influx of international flights.

“The winning formula here is to plan. Postponing the expansion will significantly reduce tourist traffic due to lack of space despite the creation of newer flight routes domestically and internationally,” he said.

Yesterday, transport minister Wee Ka Siong told Parliament that the expansion was on hold until the industry recovers.

He said the pause was also because airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) could not afford to commence work.

However, last August, MAHB told the Penang government that it was ready to commence work.