Penang wants airport included in Malaysia-Singapore VTL

 

There were 107 flights a week between Penang International Airport and Changi Airport before the pandemic struck. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: Penang hopes the federal government will consider including Penang International Airport (PIA) in the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Malaysia and Singapore as this will benefit the country’s manufacturing activities, especially in the northern states.

Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said PIA’s inclusion in the VTL, to take effect on Nov 29, would be an anchor to attract more air traffic from Singapore.

“This will be a booster for Malaysia’s economy, particularly for Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak,” he said in a statement.

“As a manufacturing hub boasting the label of Silicon Valley of the East, including PIA in the VTL programme will benefit our manufacturing landscape that comprises a host of multinational companies.”

Yeoh said the international air route between Changi International Airport and PIA recorded 107 flights a week during pre-pandemic days in November 2019, a “commendable figure that must be considered by Putrajaya”.

He said including Penang in the VTL programme could “double the pace of economic recovery and reboot the battered industries”, particularly the services sector, which comprised food and beverage, hotels and tourism operators.

He also said Penang’s adult population vaccination rate had achieved 99%. - FMT