Sandakan: Work on the extension of the Sandakan Airport runway will commence at the end of this month.

Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Managing Director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the project would take 12 to 15 months to complete.

Once completed, heavy and long-haul aircraft can land at the airport.

"The runway extension is in line with MAHB's efforts to encourage more airlines to use the airport.

"It is also proof of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's concern over the need to upgrade airports in the country," he told reporters after officiating a 'fruit festival' in conjunction with MAHB's 25th anniversary at Sandakan Airport, Wednesday.

On May 7 while launching the airport's new terminal, Najib announced an allocation of RM80 million for the runway extension project.