GEORGE TOWN: The Penang International Airport (PIA) in Bayan Lepas is all set to welcome flights under the Penang-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL).
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB) has conducted the necessary spatial planning in PIA to ensure the smooth facilitation of the Penang-Singapore flights.
"The spatial planning includes designating a dedicated aerobridge and airport apron for passengers to disembark.
"PIA has also established a medical lab for Covid-19 swab test purposes," he said after visiting PIA to inspect the final stages and progress of its VTL preparations.
In December last year, the New Straits Times reported that the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) had submitted an application for the Penang-Singapore VTL.
MAG group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail had said the application to travel between Penang and Singapore was submitted several months before following the success between the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore VTL in late November last year.
At that time, the Penang government had urged the federal government to consider including the PIA in the VTL between Malaysia and Singapore, stressing that the move would benefit the country's manufacturing landscape.
According to Yeoh, passengers who test negative upon arrival will be allowed to enter Penang while those who test positive will be sent to a special isolation area for further measures.
"The Penang government remains committed to curbing the Covid-19 virus spread to ensure that the Penang-Singapore VTL scheme can yield economic recovery for the state," he added.