KOTA KINABALU, Oct 7 — Tawau Airport, the gateway to Sabah’s famed east coast islands like diving paradise Sipadan, is set for a RM130 million makeover to boost its passenger capacity to 2.5 million passengers.
Federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced today that the three-year plan will start next year, transforming it into a fully air-conditioned terminal.
The upgrade will feature more check-in counters, larger waiting areas, and enhanced tourist-friendly facilities.
“We are hoping to start by early next year,” Loke told reporters, noting that 16 companies have been shortlisted for evaluation.
The main contractor will be appointed by early next year, he added during his visit to the airport.
“When completed, it will increase Tawau Airport’s capacity from 1.3 million to 2.5 million passengers per year.
The airport’s floor area will expand by 50 per cent, from 15,800 square metres to 23,500 square metres.
Loke confirmed that the number of check-in counters will rise from 12 to 20, along with renovations to the ageing interiors.
“Most importantly, we will convert it from a half air-conditioned terminal to a fully air-conditioned one for passenger comfort,” he said.
Additional facilities will cater to tourists, including upgraded signage in multiple languages like Chinese and Arabic, as well as multilingual customer service staff to assist during check-in.
Loke noted that the airport is currently operating at over capacity, handling 1.7 million passengers and causing congestion during peak hours.
“We have to limit the flights that come in due to the limited space, but we welcome new applications and will consider them as long as they don’t clash with existing schedules,” he said.
As a temporary measure, air coolers will be added in waiting and check-in areas to enhance visitor comfort.
Tawau Airport is the second busiest in Sabah and accommodates international flights from Chengdu, Nanjing, Macau, and Guangzhou, along with chartered flights.
“It is clear that there is a need for an upgrade, as we expect more passengers this year, with numbers recovering to pre-Covid levels,” Loke said.
He also mentioned that cargo volumes have surged from 4,000 tonnes in 2019 to 13,000 tonnes last year.
In addition to Tawau, Loke revealed plans to upgrade Kota Kinabalu International Airport, which will be presented to the Cabinet soon.
