GEORGE TOWN: Penang International Airport's (PIA) status as Malaysia’s second busiest airport in 2024 reflects its growing role as a key hub for both tourism and business amid the state's strong post-pandemic recovery.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the PIA's growth in total passenger volume of 7.47 million last year, a 7.07% increase compared to 6.97 million passengers in 2023, shows the state’s investments in tourism over the past two years are paying off.
"The increase in flight frequencies was another milestone. In 2024, the airport recorded 565 weekly flights, marking an 8.03% increase from 523 weekly flights in 2023, while international flights, in particular, grew substantially with 304 weekly flights in 2024, a 17.37% increase from 259 weekly flights the previous year.
"This data reflects Penang’s growing connectivity and its role as the aviation hub of northern Malaysia, meeting the strong demand for air services in the region,” he said in a statement on Friday (Jan 24).
Wong also pointed out that the airport welcomed 12 new direct international routes since August 2023, connecting Penang to cities like Dubai, Shanghai, Xiamen, Hong Kong, and more, further cementing its position as an aviation hub for northern Malaysia.
He noted that Penang’s strategic position as a northern region aviation hub, a global semiconductor manufacturing centre and a leading destination for medical tourism has made it a top choice for airlines to prioritise developing direct routes.
In the statement, Wong also highlights that Penang’s growth as a key international gateway is set to continue with ongoing airport expansion plans and with more direct flights in the pipeline, including a new route to Taiwan expected this year, which will also inject new energy into Penang’s tourism industry.
As of now, Penang's international route network connects 20 cities, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Don Mueang, Phuket, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City, Doha, Xi’an, Chennai, and Chongqing.
"Looking ahead, with the gradual implementation of its expansion plan, I believe PIA’s position as the second busiest airport in Malaysia will be further solidified,” he added.
Data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) dated Jan 19 revealed that PIA has risen to become Malaysia’s second busiest airport in 2024, ranking behind Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and surpassing Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) by a narrow margin.
According to the data, KLIA retained its top position with 366,895 aircraft movements last year, followed by PIA which recorded 64,507 aircraft movements, slightly ahead of KKIA's 63,822 meanwhile Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang recorded 59,929 movements and Kuching International Airport with 54,969 movements. - Bernama