KOTA BHARU: The Transport Ministry is prepared to turn Sultan Ismail Petra Airport near here into an international hub if there is demand from airlines, Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said yesterday.
He hoped airlines would introduce flights to new places from the airport, especially with the opening of the newly-widened runway next month. "If there are applications from airlines to fly to foreign destinations from here, we will consider them.
"I encourage airlines to use the airport to go to destinations in the region like Singapore and southern Thailand. "The terminal is adequate to put up facilities like Immigration and Customs counters," he said after visiting the airport's expansion project.
Kong said the airport at Pengkalan Chepa handled one million passengers last year and it was expected to reach 1.1 million this year. The airport runway has been lengthened from 1,981m to 2,400m, and can accommodate the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800.
"The work is 99.8 per cent complete and I am confident that it will be ready for handing over to the government after Hari Raya." The RM45.5 million project includes the construction of a taxiway, helicopter pads, a meteorological station and instrument landing system.
SOURCE: The New Straits Times | 19 August 2011 |
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