By P. Chandra Sagaran
The Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, which underwent a transformation of a newly designed terminal layout that not only enhances passenger experience but also increases the annual passenger capacity from 500,000 to 700,000.
The launching ceremony of the improvement and upgrading project was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on April 25.
Present were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Transport Minister Yb Anthony Loke and Housing and Local Government Minister Yb Nga Kor Ming.
According to Malaysia Airports Managing Director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said:”As the operator of the national airport network, Malaysia Airports is committed to ensuring that all airports under our stewardship including domestic gateways like Sultan Azlan Shah Airport receive equal attention to remain relevant and competitive.
“This approach aligns with the Madani Government ‘s emphasis on equitable development across the region.
“We fully support the nation’s aspiration to become a leading regional aviation hub by ensuring strong connectivity between primary and secondary airports,”he added.
This reflects Malaysia Airport’s forward looking strategy as a progressive operator.
It prioritises optimising existing infrastructure, leveraging technology to streamline operations and raising service standards as essential foundations before embarking on large scale expansions.
One of the key enhancements is the expanded terminal space which has increased by over 10 percent from 2,927 square metres to 3,257 square metres.
This upgrade has effectively improved the airport’s peak-hour passenger handling capacity from 240 to 510 passengers per hour.
Supporting this increase, every holding lounge has been significantly enlarged from 71 square metres to 270 metres , with new seating installed to accommodate up to 80 percent of peak-hour demand.
The result is a more spacious comfortable environment that can welcome three times more passengers during the busiest travel periods.
Immigration facilities have also been upgraded to enhance efficiency and provide a more seamless experience for travellers with reduced wait times.
Other upgraded facilities include passenger amenities, security screening machines, CCTV coverage and Flight Information Display System.
