Rapid Penang Bus 401 / 401E
The airport buses: George Town to Penang Airport, SPICE and Balik Pulau
How does Bus 401 / 401E work?
Bus 401 / 401E runs from Weld Quay to Balik Pulau (401E) / Teluk Kumbar (401) via 401E: Komtar, Queensbay Mall, SPICE, Bayan Baru, Airport. 401: Komtar, Jelutong, Gelugor, Sungai Nibong, Snake Temple, Airport. Fare: RM 1.40–RM 4.70 by distance, 401E every 15–20 minutes; 401 about every 60 minutes. First bus 401E 5:45 AM from Weld Quay (5:30 AM from Balik Pulau); 401 5:55 AM; last bus 401E 11:30 PM from Weld Quay (10:35 PM from Balik Pulau); 401 10:30 PM. Cash must be the exact fare: the farebox gives no change. Keep the printed ticket until you get off.
401E is the main airport bus. It runs every 15–20 minutes from Weld Quay and Komtar down the Jalan Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway past The Light City, Queensbay Mall and Setia SPICE, through Bayan Baru to Penang International Airport, then on to Teluk Kumbar and Balik Pulau. The plain 401 is a slower hourly route from Weld Quay to Teluk Kumbar via Jelutong, Gelugor, Sungai Nibong, the Snake Temple and the airport. Neither goes to Air Itam or Kek Lok Si: for those, take 204, 201 or 203.
Route Details
Route
Weld Quay → Balik Pulau (401E) / Teluk Kumbar (401)
Via
401E: Komtar, Queensbay Mall, SPICE, Bayan Baru, Airport. 401: Komtar, Jelutong, Gelugor, Sungai Nibong, Snake Temple, Airport
Journey Time
Komtar to the airport about 45–95 minutes on 401E (scheduled range, traffic dependent); Weld Quay to Balik Pulau 75 minutes to nearly 3 hours
Fare
RM 1.40 – RM 4.70
Frequency
401E every 15–20 minutes; 401 about every 60 minutes
Hours
401E 5:45 AM from Weld Quay (5:30 AM from Balik Pulau); 401 5:55 AM – 401E 11:30 PM from Weld Quay (10:35 PM from Balik Pulau); 401 10:30 PM
Distance-based. Komtar to the airport is about 24 km on 401E (RM 3.40) and about 17 km on 401 (RM 2.70); Komtar to SPICE about 15.5 km (RM 2.70); Weld Quay to Balik Pulau about 41 km (RM 4.70). Cash must be exact (no change given), or use a stored-value card or pass.
Checked 2026-10-06. Checked against Rapid Penang's route table and its GTFS timetable feed. Times are scheduled; traffic changes them.
Tourist Highlights — Where to Get Off
These are the stops most useful for tourists. Click any stop in the full list below for more details.
Terminal Komtar
George Town centre: the 401E boards here for the airport.
Amari SPICE
Setia SPICE convention centre and arena (also served by 302, 303, 304 and 308).
(M1) Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang
Penang International Airport.
Terminal Bas Balik Pulau
End of the 401E: Balik Pulau town, durian country in season.
All 49 Stops — Bus 401 / 401E
Search by stop name or nearby attraction. Tap any stop for details. Gold stars mark tourist highlight stops.
Showing all 49 stops
Terminal A Weld Quay
Start of the route, beside the ferry terminal
Flat Lebuh Noordin
Terminal Komtar
Main bus interchange in George Town
Komtar Timur
Flat Macallum
Mutiara Height
Jabatan Laut Wilayah Utara
Nearest stop to The Light City and PWCC (about 400 m in a straight line; walking route not checked)
Batu Uban Highway
Jeti Pulau Jerejak
Gold Coast Kondominium
KWSP Queensbay
Queensbay Mall
Queensbay Mall
Krystal Point Corporate Park
Kompleks Bukit Jambul II
Masjid Al- Ittifaq
Sungai Nibong Kecil
Amari SPICE
Setia SPICE convention centre and arena
SPICE Canopy
Setia SPICE canopy park and arena
I Avenue
Sunshine Square
Giant Bayan Baru
Snake Temple
Stop named for the Snake Temple
Kilang Clarion
Sungai Tiram
Chung Shan Chinese School
(M1) Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang
Penang International Airport
Apartmen Bayan Permai
Pekan Bayan Lepas
Saujana Height
Teluk Kumbar Height
Masjid Sungai Batu
Flat Taman Emas Sungai Batu
Pekan Teluk Kumbar
SK Teluk Kumbar
Bandar Baru Perda
Hentian Kampung Bukit
PUSPAKOM
Bukit Genting
Hub Pekan Genting
SMK Pondok Upeh Balik Pulau
Masjid Daerah Balik Pulau
IPD Barat Daya
Taman Seri Indah
SK Kongsi
Masjid Kongsi
Pejabat Pos Balik Pulau
AADK Pekan Kongsi
SJK (C) Chong Teik
Terminal Bas Balik Pulau
End of the route — Balik Pulau town
Bus 401 / 401E · 49 stops total · Tap a stop for details
Insider Tips for Bus 401 / 401E
- For the airport, take 401E: it comes every 15–20 minutes against roughly hourly for the 401
- For Setia SPICE, get off at "Amari SPICE" or "SPICE Canopy" on the 401E
- For The Light City / PWCC, the nearest 401E stops are "Jabatan Laut Wilayah Utara" (towards the airport) and "Lotus E-Gate" (towards George Town); check the walking route on a map
- Allow plenty of time for a flight: the scheduled ride from Komtar to the airport ranges from about 45 to 95 minutes
- Carry exact change: the farebox does not give change
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Taking the 401 or 401E to Kek Lok Si or Air Itam: neither goes there. Take 204, 201 or 203
- Waiting for a plain 401 to the airport when a 401E comes every 15–20 minutes
- Cutting it fine for a flight in the evening rush
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bus goes from Penang Airport to George Town?
401E is the main one: every 15–20 minutes to Komtar and Weld Quay. The 102 also runs airport to Komtar (and on to the beaches) about every 75 minutes, and the 401 about hourly. Komtar to the airport is RM 2.70–3.40 depending on the route.
What is the difference between Bus 401 and 401E?
401E runs from Weld Quay via the Jalan Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway, Queensbay, SPICE and Bayan Baru to the airport and Balik Pulau, every 15–20 minutes. The 401 runs from Weld Quay via Jelutong, Gelugor and Sungai Nibong to the airport and Teluk Kumbar, about every 60 minutes. Both serve the airport.
Does Bus 401 go to Kek Lok Si or Air Itam?
No. Rapid Penang routes 401 and 401E do not pass through Air Itam. For Kek Lok Si take 204 (towards Penang Hill), 201 or 203 and alight at the "Kek Lok Si Temple" stop.
Which bus goes to Setia SPICE?
401E, 302, 303, 304 and 308 all stop at "Amari SPICE" and "SPICE Canopy". From Komtar, 401E is the most frequent (about 15.5 km, RM 2.70).
Is there a bus to PWCC / The Light City?
No stop is named for it. The nearest are on the 401E along Jalan Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu: "Jabatan Laut Wilayah Utara" (towards the airport, about 400 m from PWCC in a straight line) and "Lotus E-Gate" (towards George Town, about 500 m). Jalan Gelugor stops about 750 m away are served by 102, 301, 302, 303, 304 and 401.