He said according to a written reply by Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai in Parliament today, the airport would most likely be upgraded only in 2022.

Lim said this meant the ministry would only apply for funds for the upgrading next year in the second rolling plan of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016-2020).

“Even if the application for the airport upgrade is made next year, the expansion works will take at least three years.

“That means it will be ready by 2021 or 2022.

“With 6.26 million passengers currently, inching in towards its maximum (capacity of) 6.5 million passengers per year, the passenger traffic would be at a critical level,” he said in a statement here today.

In his written reply, Liow said the ministry had plans to upgrade the PIA to accommodate 10 million passengers per annum.

Liow also said airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad would build a 3,000 bay multi-level car park in two phases beginning in the first quarter of 2017. This project was expected to be completed by end-2018.

Lim said the Penang Government was very upset with the delay in upgrading the airport, saying this showed there was no proper planning beforehand.

“The question that begs to be asked is why the ministry did not do the planning earlier?

“PIA is one of the most profitable airports in the country, pouring revenue into the Federal Government.”

The airport was last upgraded in 2012, amid niggling construction problems at a cost of RM250 million borne by the Federal Government.

It was built to accommodate 6.5 million passengers.

Prior to that, it was upgraded in 2001 to accommodate five million passengers.