KOTA BARU: The Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) in Pengkalan Chepa is set to become an international airport after its ongoing upgrading exercise is completed, depending on flight demand, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

       He said the upgrading project costing more than RM440mil was expected to be completed by mid-2024 and would allow the airport to accommodate up to four million passengers per annum.

       “The main scope of the project includes the expansion and upgrading of the existing terminal building to increase its capacity from 1.5 million passengers per annum to four million passengers per annum, which is expected to be achieved by 2028.

       “The project will also create separate passenger arrival and departure halls within the larger terminal building,” he told reporters after making a working visit to the project site.

       Also present were State Public Works, Infrastructure, Transport and Utilities Committee chairman Datuk Azami Mohd Nor and Kelantan Public Works Department director Suhaili Ismail.

       Mustapa said the LTSIP upgrading works would not only provide convenience to the locals but also create about 500 job opportunities when the project’s implementation reached its heights in June next year.

       “This is part of the federal government’s efforts to raise inter-city connectivity and subsequently narrow the development gap between territories, which is one of the highlights of the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said. — Bernama