and handles the second largest cargo tonnage of all Malaysian airports after Kuala Lumpur International Airport. , the airport posted a record 7.23 million tourist arrivals. Notably, Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, Firefly, has made Penang International Airport one of its main hubs. AirAsia, another domestic budget airliner, also operates out of Penang International Airport as one of its secondary hubs. Ground transportation Rapid Penang has provided four bus routes to and from Penang International Airport, connecting the airport with various parts of Penang Island. The Rapid Penang routes that pass through the Penang International Airport include: 102: Penang International Airport-Penang National Park-Penang International Airport 306: Penang International Airport-Penang General Hospital-Penang International Airport 401: Teluk Kumbar-Pengkalan Weld-Teluk Kumbar 401E: Balik Pulau-Pengkalan Weld-Balik Pulau In addition, as of December 2020, the state government is planning a light-rail project that will connect Penang International Airport and Komtar with 27 intermediate stations. Incidents 28 March 1981: Garuda Indonesia Flight 206 refueled at Penang International Airport. During refueling, the hijackers removed an old lady named Hulda Panjaitan from the plane because she kept crying. Subsequently, the plane took off and landed at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok. October 1985: Barlow and Chambers, two British-Australian criminals were caught at the airport, trying to smuggle heroin into Australia. Both were arrested and later sentenced to death. 9 Jan 2000: Korean Air Cargo Flight 367, a Boeing 747-230F while approaching Runway 22. The aircraft lost a flap section, which punctured the fuselage, causing a 1 m-wide hole. 1 Jan 2020: A bush fire near the airport put authorities on alert, but flights were not delayed by the incident. References External links Penang International Airport at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad Penang Sentral global website Airports in Penang Northern Corridor Economic Region 1935 establishments in British Malaya Airports established in 1935