Penang: The expansion of Penang International Airport (PIA) is advancing with significant progress, as two components are already underway, enhancing the airport's capacity to accommodate increasing passenger numbers and reinforcing its status as a regional aviation hub. State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai shared updates on the project, which is divided into three primary phases, with phase one focusing on ancillary buildings and associated works reaching 98 per cent completion.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wong outlined that phase two, which includes the construction of the apron and airside facilities, has achieved 54 per cent completion. However, phase three, which involves building the main terminal and associated works, has not yet begun. Wong recently convened a briefing for tourism stakeholders to inform them about the facility upgrades and the airport's expansion progress.
Several facility enhancements have been introduced at PIA to improve passenger experience. Among these is a new auto-gates system for immigration clearance, currently serving travelers from 73 countries and regions for departures and 65 for arrivals. Wong noted that the number of gates is expected to expand to 12 each by the end of the year to cater to the growing passenger traffic.
Additionally, a new e-hailing pick-up zone has been set up on the ground floor of the car park opposite the main terminal, aimed at improving the experience for visitors arriving in Penang. The Malaysia National Integrated Immigration System (MyNIISe) has also been launched at the airport, featuring QR code-based immigration clearance, which replaces the previous MyBorderPass system. This application allows travelers to complete immigration clearance by scanning a QR code and accessing their personal entry and exit records, offering faster processing than traditional passport checks.
Currently, PIA offers three methods for immigration clearance: passport scanning at Auto-Gates, MyNIISe QR code scanning at Auto-Gates, or manual counters. Wong reported a steady increase in passenger traffic, with 8.31 million passenger movements recorded in 2025, up from 7.47 million in 2024, marking an 11.25 per cent rise.
The airport manages an average of 22,000 passenger movements daily, including approximately 10,000 domestic and 12,000 international passengers. Additionally, it handles an average of 179 daily aircraft movements and 1,253 weekly aircraft movements. Due to the increased number of flights, the existing 16 aircraft parking aprons are insufficient. The expansion plan includes constructing 12 additional parking aprons, comprising six contact stands connected to the terminal and six remote stands.
Upon completion, the total number of parking aprons at PIA will rise to 28, significantly boosting operational capacity and providing the necessary aviation infrastructure to support the sustained growth of Penang's tourism industry, Wong concluded.