No plans to turn LTSIP into international airport

The government has no plans to make the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, into an international airport, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi.

He said Malaysia already had six international airports, namely in Kuala Lumpur; Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Kuching, Sarawak; Penang; Senai, Johor and Langkawi, Kedah.

"LTSIP and other airports serve as feeders to the international airports.

"Although they are not categorised as international airports, yet they can handle scheduled and non-scheduled flight operations like the airports in Ipoh, Kuantan and Melaka," he said when winding up the 2017 Supply Bill in the Senate on Tuesday.

Last November, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed announced that upgrading and expansion project for LTSIP, costing RM400 million, was scheduled to begin next year.

On the incidence of passenger finding their baggage opened despite locking them with padlock, Ab Aziz said baggage handling at airports is handled by the respective airlines.

However, he said, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (Malaysia Airports) always cooperate with land handling companies appointed by airlines to avoid cases like theft or missing baggage. -- Bernama