High time for KKIA, Tawau airport upgrade – CM

KOTA KINABALU (Nov 27): Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said it’s high time for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to upgrade the facilities at Terminal 1 of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), and also the Tawau Airport.

He acknowledged having a very good meeting with a four-member delegation from MAHB led by its Managing Director Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani who paid a courtesy call on the former at Sri Gaya, here today.

“The Kota Kinabalu International Airport is the second busiest airport in Malaysia. So, hopefully, the upgrading of Terminal 1 will take off soon. We appreciate it very much. The number of tourists coming to Sabah is picking up,” Hajiji said after the briefing.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew, who was also present, said more direct flights are coming to Sabah from November to December this year.

In his presentation, Mohd Izani said the total estimated development cost of implementing the KKIA Airport Development Plan is RM442.3 million for Terminal 1 for a capacity of 12 million passengers per annum (12 mppa).

In 2019, KKIA exceeded the capacity threshold of 9 mppa with a total of 9.4 mppa.

“We (MAHB) are happy that Kota Kinabalu is expanding. That’s the plan, now we are going to implement it. We will give you an expanded terminal upon completion in mid-2028,” Mohd Izani told the CM.

According to the Managing Director, construction activities involve upgrading of the existing terminal building and pier extension (that includes a multi-storey carpark), airside infrastructure (to accommodate an additional 7 numbers of aircraft), landside infrastructure (roadworks upgrading), and infrastructure works.

On the request for MAHB to put up a model of the KKIA Airport Development Plan at the airport for public viewing, Mohd Izani said they have to finalise the design first.

In the meantime, he said, the KKIA is undergoing an optimisation programme to improve the terminal ambiance and infrastructure at the airside area. “This should be completed in the middle of 2025.”

Other members of the MAHB delegation were Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd Senior General Manager, Kamaruzzaman Razali, Advisor to the Managing Director, Datuk Abdullah Kadir Bacha, and General Manager (Stakeholder Relations & Regulatory Affairs) Mohammad Hanizal Abdul Hamid.