29Oct

Royal Brunei launches inaugural Sandakan flight

SANDAKAN: Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) on Monday launched its inaugural flight service from Bandar Seri Begawan to here. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, in his welcoming speech, said air connectivity is vital to enhance economic growth of Sandakan. He said according to the latest Malaysia Airports Bhd statistics, Sandakan Airport recorded a more than 10pc growth in the first quarter of this year. “I’m glad to see Sandakan Airport achieving such a significant and healthy growth rate. With the latest addition of Royal Brunei Airlines, I’m confident that the Sandakan Airport will continue to register positive growth.“In fact, I would even say that air connectivity and accessibility has become the single most important factor in influencing the growth of Sandakan’s economy. “In this regard, I would like to congratulate Royal Brunei Airlines for taking the bold step of launching this Bandar Seri Begawan-Sandakan route. This will certainly act as an enabler for both cities to forge closer ties, culturally and economically,” he said. His speech was read by Sandakan MP Vivian Wong. The six-time weekly Bandar Seri Begawan-Sandakan flight services uses a new ATR 72-600 aircraft operated by Malindo Air. Liew said he would also like to take the opportunity to urge all industry stakeholders, including Malaysia Airports, Sabah Tourism Board and Sandakan Tourism Association, to work closely with RBA to prove to all that Sandakan can and will sustain new international routes coming its way. “Tourism marketing has a relatively long lead time. We need to work closer together now to promote Sandakan more aggressively in order to get more people and more flights to our city,” he added. Also present were RBA’s Vice President of Government and International Relations, Rory Lou Teo, General Manager of Sabah Tourism, Noredah Othman, President of Sandakan Tourism Association, Teo Chee Kim, and Senior Manager of Routes Development for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Zainuddin Mohamed.The RBA flight carrying 72 passengers arrived at the Sandakan Airport at 2.15pm and was welcomed with a water cannon salute. Source: Sandakan
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30Sep

Malaysia’s Sandakan Airport to extend runway for international flights

Construction work for the extension of Sandakan Airport in Malaysia has started and is expected to be completed by mid-2021. The project includes the extension of the current runway from 2,133m to 2,500m and the construction of a new taxiway, which will connect the runway to the parking apron. Expansion of the current aircraft parking apron, as well as the relocation and installation of associated approach lighting and runway equipment, will also be undertaken. The project is expected to have a duration of around 18 to 20 months. According to the Borneo Post, Sandakan Member of Parliament Vivian Wong Shir Yee has said that state and federal ministries will work together to complete the project on time. Shir Yee said: “We are collaborating closely with various stakeholders, the Ministry, Tourism Malaysia, Sabah Tourism Board, Malaysia Airport, airlines, local tourism players and media to promote Sandakan so that we can get more airlines to serve Sandakan as soon as the runway project is done. “Going by the current growth trend, we will need to embark on the terminal expansion by the time the runway extension is completed to cater to the air travel demand in the district. We certainly look forward to usher in a new era of air travel to and from Sandakan soon.” The project was introduced by former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he visited Sandakan in March 2017. It is expected to boost the tourism and income for the region by permitting international flights to land. Source: Airport Technology
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06Mar

Tawau Airport expansion may start year end

PUTRAJAYA: Prospects are bright for the proposed expansion and development of the Tawau Airport to cater to the influx of tourists from China and other countries.Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Christina Liew, said this after an inaugural official meeting with the Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, at the Federal Government Administrative Centre, here, Monday.“The Tawau Airport is the second largest airport in Sabah after KKIA. I am glad to have met the Minister of Transport. We have had a fruitful discussion,” she said.During their discussion, she disclosed that in 2018, the Tawau Airport recorded 1.64 million passengers with 19.7pc growth, the fourth highest in terms of passenger growth after KLIA, Kota Kinabalu and Penang airports. “This means that the airport has exceeded its capacity of 1.4 million passengers commencing operations as a domestic airport in 2001.”Liew, who is Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said the ball is at Sabah’s feet and if everything goes smoothly as planned, commencement of works should take place by the end of the year.Loke concurred with the Sabah Minister that Tawau is the gateway to the eastern part of Sabah, especially to the world-class diving sites at Sipadan and Mabul off Semporna, and to the world-renowned Danum Valley in Lahad Datu. The East Coast of Sabah has a huge potential for tourism development.“Infrastructure development, especially for airports, will never go wrong. If your tourism product is there, it will even be easier. We (Government) are changing the whole landscape of the airport industry in the country. MAHB can have a Sabah cluster,” he said.Meanwhile, the Transport Minister expressed support for Liew’s suggestion for Visa On Arrival (VOS) for tourist arrivals from China and India within a specific period. He, however, is in favour of having Visa Free facility to ensure that foreign tourists from China, India and Korea are hassle-free when entering the country. Liew was accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, William Baya, Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Ken Pan Ying On and General Manager of STB, Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani. Also present were the Minister’s Private Secretary, Helen Muhammari, STB Senior Marketing Manager, Tay Shu Lan, MAHB Director (Stakeholder Relations & Regulatory Affairs), Datuk Abdullah Kadir Bacha and Senior General Manager (Commercial Services), Mohammad Nazli Abdul Aziz.Earlier, Liew met with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Group Chief Executive Officer, Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin at the Malaysia Airports Corporate Office at KLIA.Tawau tops the list of six airports in the country that have been earmarked for expansion and development.He assured Liew that he is committed to the Tawau Expansion and Development Proposal for implementation as soon as possible.Raja Azmi, who had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Minister in Sabah earlier, reiterated that the proposal encompasses upgrading of the facilities at the airport, provision of a surau, increasing the number of immigration counters and improving the existing toilets, among other measures. Source: Daily Express
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