MIRI: The airport expansion project here has been proposed to be revised to better accommodate growing passenger demand and enhance facilities.
Minister for Transport, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said several suggestions had been put forward during a meeting with the Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) at the Miri Airport here today (Feb 28).
“Previously, we submitted our proposal, but now we also want to revise it. One, I requested them to look into the traffic flow within the airport’s terminal area which has long been a source of congestion within the terminal building.
“With the airport’s expansion, we will have to ensure a smooth traffic flow.”
Secondly, Lee said the proposal also includes increasing the number of parking spaces, creating dedicated bays for tourist buses, and designating specific zones for e-hailing and taxi services.
“Next, the expansion would also feature a dedicated section for rural air services (RAS), particularly for AirBorneo operations.
“I have proposed that the RAS have separate areas for check-in and waiting area, so it would not be mixed up with the present jet aircraft operation.”
He added there is an urgent need to upgrade passenger check-in facilities as the current number of check-in counters is insufficient to meet future demand.
“The expansion project is not only focused on short-term improvements but must consider long-term aviation growth.
“Therefore, I would also like to appeal to the Ministry of Transport Malaysia to assess Miri Airport’s needs beyond the next five years.”
With Miri positioned as the northern gateway to Sarawak and a growing tourism hub, he said, more international flights are anticipated in the future.
“Because once we start full operation of the airport, and with AirBorneo operating, we will be expecting more flights coming in including international flights.”
He said that if everything proceeds as planned, the tender phase could take place by the end of the year, around November or December, with construction expected to begin in early 2026 and with the project estimated to take 36 months to complete.
He then said the proposed upgrading of the airport terminal will also see the increase of the airport’s capacity from two million to four million passengers per year.
“This will be done by increasing the terminal floor area from 16,900 square meters to 25,000 square metres.
“The upgrade will also include six new aerobridges, bringing the total to nine, alongside an international departure lounge to accommodate future international flights.”
He added the third bay aerobridge will be replaced in March, and with two aging aerobridges will be replaced this year.
“These aerobridges, which have frequently broken down, have been a major inconvenience for both airlines and passengers and will be resolved by this year.”
On a related note, he said Miri Airport is among the busiest domestic airports in Malaysia in terms of aircraft movement.
“Before Covid-19 pandemic, we recorded 42,076 aircraft movements and over 2.43 million passenger arrivals during the pre-Covid-19 in 2019 – exceeding the airport’s current capacity.”
Earlier, a preliminary meeting involving the Federal Ministry of Transport, State Ministry of Transport, PWD and MAHB were also held on Feb 26 to discuss the project’s details including the airport design and appointment of consultants.
