Penang International Airport unaffected by haze, no mass stranding after Jakarta flight cancellations

George Town, September 8 — Penang International Airport (PIA) operations have proceeded normally despite the recent haze, according to Wong Hon Wai, chairman of the state tourism and creative economy committee. The airport management informed Wong that the haze in Penang and other parts of Malaysia had not impacted aircraft take-offs or landings thus far.

He assured that the state government would keep a close watch on the situation and liaise with the airport and airlines to mitigate the effects of haze and unexpected aviation incidents on Penang tourists and the tourism sector. Wong detailed that several flights between Penang and Jakarta were recently canceled due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau's eruption, affecting AirAsia, TransNusa, and Batik Air, which all operate direct flights between Jakarta and Penang.

The airlines promptly alerted affected passengers via email, SMS, and other channels, ensuring no large-scale stranding of Indonesian travelers at PIA. Wong held a recent meeting with Ahmad Fikri Samsudin, the new Penang International Airport senior airport manager, and state government representatives. The discussion covered the airport expansion plan, future management strategies, and development direction, aiming to align airport infrastructure with the Penang state government's goal of expanding the international direct flight network.

Wong also mentioned that preparations for two new international routes were discussed, with Hainan Airlines launching direct flights between Haikou and Penang on October 11, while Batik Air will introduce direct services between Batam and Penang on October 18. International passenger traffic at PIA has consistently risen as the state expands direct links with significant international cities, reaching 2,646,500 passenger movements between January and July this year, marking an 11.13% increase compared to 2,381,520 during the same period last year.

Wong concluded that the growth demonstrates the positive impact of the state government's efforts to enhance international routes and foster new tourism source markets.