As passenger traffic at Penang International Airport continues to grow, the move will provide convenience and faster clearance to residents and visitors alike.

Penang International Airport (PIA) is set to enhance its immigration processes with the introduction of the ‘MyBorderPass’ system and Auto Gate facilities in the coming months. The new system aims to improve efficiency for both locals and foreign visitors, reducing wait times and easing congestion at immigration counters.

According to State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, the initiative is currently in the planning phase, with the tender process already underway.

“This initiative will help ease congestion at immigration counters, improve overall clearance efficiency, and reduce long queues during peak hours. Visitors from 63 countries and regions will be eligible to use the Auto Gate system,” he said in a statement following a meeting with the airport’s management.

STREAMLINING IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE, EXPANDING CHECK-IN OPTIONS

With these improvements, passengers will no longer need to rely solely on manual immigration counters, allowing for faster entry and exit procedures.

To further improve passenger flow, PIA has ramped up its self-service facilities. The airport now has 35 Self-Service Check-In Kiosks, helping to expedite the check-in process. Of these, 15 kiosks are designated for AirAsia passengers, while the remaining 20 cater to Scoot, Cathay Pacific, and Malaysia Airlines travellers.

Discussions are ongoing with other airlines to expand the self-service check-in options, ensuring a more seamless experience for all passengers. The kiosks are strategically located across the terminal to minimise bottlenecks and prevent overcrowding during peak travel periods.

In addition, PIA has rolled out five Self-Service Bag Drop counters, currently available exclusively for Malaysia Airlines passengers. This facility allows travellers to check in their luggage independently, eliminating the need for manual baggage handling at the counter.

“The airport management is in discussions with other airlines to extend this service to a wider range of carriers, allowing more passengers to benefit from faster and more efficient baggage handling,” Wong noted.

PIA EXPANSION MOVING AHEAD

Beyond operational upgrades, PIA is undergoing a major expansion to accommodate rising passenger numbers. Wong confirmed that as of mid-March 2025, the first phase of the project – including the construction of an auxiliary building and related infrastructure – had reached 32% completion. The project remains on track and is expected to be completed on schedule.

Passenger traffic at PIA has been climbing steadily. Between January and February 2025, the airport recorded 1.37 million passengers, marking a 17.35% increase from the 1.17 million seen in the same period last year.

International flight frequency has also surged. As of February 2025, PIA handled 320 international flights per week, compared to 208 weekly flights in 2016 – a 1.54-fold increase. This growth reflects the airport’s rising importance as a regional aviation hub.

With passenger numbers and flight frequencies continuing to rise, existing infrastructure is being pushed to its limits. Wong acknowledged that PIA’s current 16 aircraft bays are insufficient to meet future demand.

“As part of the expansion, 12 new aircraft bays will be added – six with contact stands and six remote bays – bringing the total to 28 aircraft bays, nearly doubling the current capacity,” he said.

The expansion is expected to boost PIA’s ability to handle larger volumes of travellers while improving the overall airport experience. With the introduction of new immigration technology, self-service facilities, and infrastructure upgrades, the airport is gearing up to accommodate Penang’s growing tourism and business travel sectors.