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The information on this page is for people who have landed in Penang by plane. If you are looking for Entry Requirements in terms of customs and immigration, please go to this page instead.
People coming to Penang by plane land at the Penang International Airport (PEN), which used to be called the Bayan Lepas International Airport. It is located about 16km (10 miles) from George Town. The Arrival Hall is located on the ground floor of the airport. There are two eateries on this level, a Tourist Information Centre, where you can collect brochures and flyers on most states of Malaysia, and a taxi stand.
Leaving the airport
If you don't have someone to pick you up at the airport, the most convenient way to leave the airport is by airport taxi.
Taking the bus from airport
Unfortunate for budget travelers, at the time of writing, there is no longer a public bus operating between the airport and town. To catch a public bus, you need to walk out of the airport to the bus stop on the main road. The bus stop is opposite a school about 300-500 meters away. From there, you can take bus number U401, operated by Rapid Penang. The bus spots a red roof, cream-and-blue body, and red livery with the words "rapid PENANG" in white. Make sure the buses show "Weld Quay" as the destination, not "Balik Pulau", to ensure you don't go in the wrong direction! The fare is about RM2.00 or RM3.00.
Taking the taxi from airport
The Taxi Stand stands right in the middle of Arrival Hall. You can't miss it. It has the word "Teksi" on it, and it looks like this:
The taxi fare is as follows:
You can download the above chart with a right-click of your mouse.
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Booking an Airport Transfer by Air-Conditioned Coach or Minivan
You can book an airport transfer between the Penang Airport and your hotel. The service is provided by Tour East. If you book this service, a Tour East Representative holding a sign with your name on it and wearing the Tour East uniform (vertical striped shirt and navy blue skirt or trousers), will be on hand to welcome you. For details, please click here.
Renting a car from airport
Driving around Penang Island is quite easy. The city of George Town, however, is full of one-way streets, so getting around might be a bit tricky for the unfamiliar. Having said that, you can easily rent a car right from the airport. Car rental counters are found at the Arrival Hall, near the staircase to Level One. Just shop around for one that suits your needs. You can also call the following car rental companies:
Avis-Rent-A-Car: +60-4-646 2410
Hertz-Rent-A-Car: +604-263 5914
Mayflower Car Rental: +60-4-262 8196
Kasina Baru: +60-4-228 2641
National Car Rental: +60-4-262 9204
New Bob: +60-4-226 6111
Orix Car Rental: 1 800 88 1555
Syarikat Ruhanmas: +60-4-881 1071
Driving out of Penang airport, you can find two petrol stations nearby, a Petronas and a Shell. One is on Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, on the way towards the Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone. To get there, take the ramp immediately after the flyover. The other is on the road into Bayan Lepas Town. To get there, make a left turn in front of the flyover. Let me show you their location here:
See also information on petrol stations in George Town and elsewhere on Penang Island.
Travel Information Centre at Penang Airport
If you are looking for travel help at Penang Airport, there is a Travel Information Centre at the Arrival Hall, opposite the Taxi Stand. You can get brochures on Penang and other states from there.
Tourist Information Centre at the airport
If you are arriving by other means, please select arrival by car, by bus, or by train. Otherwise, return to the Table of Contents to select another topic.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I want to thank Allan Ooi, BB, Colleen Dunk, Alex Lee, Eric Yeoh, Clement Liang, Vinod Mathavan, YK Teh, Josephine and CCT for their contribution and input on the content of this page.
