While the government has yet to concede that the regulated asset base (RAB) will be the framework for funding and developing the country’s airport network, it is proceeding with plans to expand the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baru, Kelantan, and Sandakan Airport in Sabah.
However, critics say money and attention should be channelled to airports handling larger passenger volume and that are already operating near or above the design capacity such as the Penang International Airport and Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
Penang airport saw 7.8 million passengers pass through its gates last year, 20% above its design capacity of 6.5 million passengers per year, while Kota Kinabalu airport is close to maxing out its space, handling 8.6 million passengers in 2018 versus its designed capacity for 9 million passengers.
In March, the government approved a RM450 million allocation to boost Kota Baru airport’s capacity by nearly three times, from 1.5 million to 4 million passengers per year. The expansion includes extending the 2,400m runway to 2,500m to allow bigger aircraft to land and turning the terminal into a two-storey building to accommodate arrival and departure halls.
At the same time, it was announced that the government would invest RM80.9 million in upgrading Sandakan Airport, including extending its 2,133m runway to 2,500m and building a new taxiway.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) forecasts that Kota Baru airport will reach its new capacity of four million passengers by 2037, based on current passenger growth. The airport handled a record 2.06 million passengers in 2015. Five airlines — namely Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Firefly, Malindo Air and Scoot — currently make stopovers at Kota Baru airport, which combined provide 512 flights per week.
Apart from these commercial airlines, Kota Baru airport also serves as a hub for offshore helicopter service provider Weststar Aviation Services Sdn Bhd’s operations in the eastern region.
Meanwhile, the lack of capacity is not an issue at Sandakan Airport, which handled 900,000 passengers last year against its design capacity of 1.5 million. Sandakan Airport currently serves four airlines, namely Malaysia Airlines/MASwings, AirAsia, Malindo Air and Royal Brunei Airlines, providing 224 flights per week. The government plans to attract other regional airlines to fly direct to Sandakan Airport.
Still, an aviation expert points out that Tawau Airport requires more urgent attention than Sandakan Airport. Tawau Airport’s passenger volume hit 1.64 million last year, 9% above its design capacity of 1.5 million passengers per year.