Sultan Azlan Shah airport upgrade is off

The plan to upgrade the terminal building and lengthen the runway of the under-utilised Sultan Azlan Shah Airport is off.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali said this was because the state government was concerned that money spent on the project might not generate the growth needed to boost economic activities in Ipoh and Perak.

We need to look at other alternatives,” he said yesterday after attending a day with customers of Perak Tengah district office here, about 45km from Ipoh.
The airport in Ipoh is currently under-utilised, with only twice weekly flights from Ipoh to Medan.

Tajol Rosli pointed out that it would cost some RM70mil to lengthen the current runway to accommodate a Boeing 737, which could only ply the Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh route.
“This would not generate the growth needed for Ipoh.

He added that it would cost some RM309mil to upgrade the airport to allow an A320 Airbus to land with a limited fuel load, but the aircraft would not be able to fly to foreign destinations like Bangkok, Jakarta and Madras.

“So the airport will still be used only for the Ipoh-Kuala Lumpur sector,” he said.
One alternative, he said, was to build an airport near the town here, which would benefit the surrounding towns of Tronoh and Batu Gajah too.

“When the highway to Lumut is completed, then foreigners could even be drawn into buying second homes near here or in Pangkor Island,” he said.



Well, they might as well just close down then entire airport since it's under-utilised, use that piece of land to do some other useful stuff !!!
He was the one who suggested that the airport will be upgraded, when the upgrade is approved, he dun want !!

If the airport is not upgraded, FOREVER there will be no planes bigger than 737 can land in the airport!!

HOW can airlines plan for any international routes for ipoh if the airport is not upgraded ??
then blames will go to the airlines again n again for not making ipoh one of their destination.