Some prefer faster, cheaper PCA route

Safe landing: Passengers arriving at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Several Penangites based in Singapore have opted to return home via the cheaper and faster route known as the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA).

Assistant producer Fern Teh, 27, said she would be able to fly direct from Changi Airport to Penang International Airport via the PCA.

Currently, the Malaysia-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane by Air (VTL-Air) only allows flights between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Changi.

However, Teh will have to serve the mandatory seven-day quarantine upon touching down in Penang tomorrow. Still, she is elated to be home after more than two years.

“The VTL flights are more costly and since I have one month’s unpaid leave, I will fly straight to Penang and quarantine at home.

“The last time I checked, the price for a VTL flight to KLIA could go up to S$500 (RM1,541). The Covid-19 testing package alone will cost us between S$343 (RM1,056.84) and S$484 (RM1,491.28).

“To me, the VTL is costlier compared to the PCA,” she said, adding that she would, however, take the VTL-Air for her return trip to Singapore.

Singapore and Malaysia currently have the PCA in place, which allows work pass holders to travel between the two countries, though commuters are required to serve quarantine.

On the contrary, the VTL allows those fully vaccinated to travel between Singapore and Malaysia subject to Covid-19 tests in lieu of quarantine.

Sales executive Danelle Ong, 27, will be back in Penang via the VTL-Air programme on Jan 2.

“It has been almost two years since I last went home. I really miss home as well as the delicious Penang local food. The procedure for the VTL programme is actually manageable. I will just need to apply for the VTL pass online, buy the flight tickets and book my RT-PCR Covid-19 test slot,” she said, adding that she was told that she might need to wait between one to three hours for the results while in Malaysia.

“So, I have decided to fly back to Penang a day after touching down at KLIA so that I don’t have to worry about the time,” said Ong, who has been fully vaccinated since July.

Ong said she had applied for a week’s leave, adding that her boss had also allowed her to work from home the following week.

“I really do not want to waste my leave being quarantined at home,” she said.