LUMUT: There are plans to extend the runway of the Pangkor airport to allow larger planes to land, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

       The Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd chairman said the upgrade would allow planes that could carry up to 70 passengers and crew per flight to land.

       “Currently, the runway is only 732m. We are planning to extend it to 1.5km,” he said after welcoming the inaugural SKS Airways flight from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang to the island yesterday.

       Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, who was also present, said the state always welcomed initiatives to bring more tourists to the tax-free island.

       “The inaugural flight by SKS Airways will definitely boost the number of tourists to the island.

       “I was informed that the inaugural flight took 55 minutes from Subang and carried 19 passengers and crew members,” he said.

       Saarani said from October to December last year, nearly 300,000 tourists had visited the island.

       “With this number, we are certain it will help to revive the tourism sector on the island as well as the local economy through the hotel industry, transportation services and recreational water sports activities,” he said.