IPOH: The RM60mil expansion of Sultan Azlan Shah Airport has taken off, with its first phase at about 90% completion, says Loh Sze Yee.
The Perak tourism, industry, investment and corridor development committee chairman clarified that the expansion’s first phase valued at about RM8mil, is nearly completed and expected to be finished by March.
"The first phase is more about optimisation, to allow the airport to accommodate up to 700,000 passengers annually.
"Work is already at 80% (completion) before Chinese New Year and is now around 90%," he said in a press conference after attending a business matching programme between local and China tourism industry players here on Tuesday (Feb 11).
"This is so that the premises will not be so packed at the arrival and departure halls.
"There will be additional immigration counters and autogates for easier and faster in-and-out," he added.
It had been reported that the Federal Government has approved the RM60mil to expand the airport.
However, for the second phase of the expansion work, which costs about RM52mil, Loh said talks with with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) have hit a snag and could delay the expansion’s progress.
"It was agreed upon in a meeting with the previous MAHB management to proceed but under the new management, things are not as rosy.
"They want to look at the optimisation (phase) first," he said.
He added that the second phase would involve the expanding buildings, MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations), logistics services and the cargo terminal.
"We seriously hope that MAHB can expedite this. Ipoh people are quite fed up waiting for it (expansion work) despite numerous promises, but things are not moving.
"We've already submitted what is required, so from their side, they need to be faster," he added.
Loh also said it was not an issue for the airport to reach 700,000 passengers annually.
"Just get another flight to Singapore or Johor," he said, adding that flights from Singapore are often about 80 to 90% full.
"Another option is to get flights to KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport)," he said, adding that frequent travellers would want it.
"Travellers (from Ipoh) hate driving to KLIA for three hours, especially if they are caught in a jam.
"I think it is doable to have transit flights to Kuala Lumpur. We need MAHB to work with us," he added.
