Tawau Airport
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Tawau Airport Lapangan Terbang Tawau | |||||||||||
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 The main terminal of Tawau Airport as seen from the tarmac. | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Malaysia | ||||||||||
| Operator | Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad | ||||||||||
| Serves | Tawau Division | ||||||||||
| Location | Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia | ||||||||||
| Time zone | MST (UTC+08:00) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 57 ft / 17 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 04°18′48″N 118°07′19″E / 4.31333°N 118.12194°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  TWU /WBKW Location in Sabah state  TWU /WBKW Location in East Malaysia  TWU /WBKW Location in Borneo  TWU /WBKW Location in Malaysia  TWU /WBKW Location in Southeast Asia | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2020) | |||||||||||
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Tawau Airport (Malay: Lapangan Terbang Tawau) (IATA: TWU, ICAO: WBKW) is an airport located 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) north east[2] of Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia. It is one of two airports in Sabah with immigration counters for international flights, the other being Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Tawau Airport serves the districts of Tawau, Kunak and Semporna and is the nearest airport to the diving islands of Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai, all of which are located in the latter district.
Old Airport (1951-2000)
[edit]Old Terminal
[edit]In 1951, the British North Borneo government approved plans to construct an aerodrome in Tawau. The Tawau Airstrip opened in 1953, located on Jalan Utara (Northern Road), about 3.2 km from the town center.[3] The first flight took place on September 24, 1953, with Sabah Airways Limited operating twice-weekly flights from Sandakan using a de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft. By 1954, the route included an intermediate stop in Lahad Datu following the completion of the Lahad Datu airstrip.[4]
By the end of the 1950s, Borneo Airways served the airport with a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer aircraft, connecting Tawau to Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Jesselton.[5] In the early 1960s, in response to increased air travel demand, the runway was extended from 2,400 feet of coral to 4,500 feet of gravel, allowing daily scheduled flights to Jesselton with a Douglas DC-3 by August 1962.[6]
New Terminal
[edit]A new terminal, capable of accommodating regional aircraft such as the Fokker 27, was officially opened in 1968 by Malaysia's then Transport Minister, Tan Sri Haji Sardon. During this period, the route leading to the original terminal was renamed as Jalan Airport Lama (Old Airport Road), while the road leading to the compound of new terminal was named Jalan Airport Baru (New Airport Road).[7]
In the 1970s, the airport began offering international flights to Balikpapan and Tarakan via Bouraq Indonesian Airlines, with services operating three times a week. In October 1981, following the extension of the runway to 5,600 feet and upgrades to the parking apron and terminal, Malaysia Airlines introduced Boeing B737-200 services. Additionally, in 1995, Merpati Nusantara Airlines began direct flights from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, Indonesia, highlighting the strong socio-economic ties between Tawau and Makassar.[8]
Accidents and incidents
[edit]On September 15, 1995, Malaysia Airlines Flight 2133, operated by a Fokker 50 aircraft from Kota Kinabalu, landed approximately 500 meters (1,600 feet) short of the 1,700-meter (5,577 feet) runway at Tawau Airport. While attempting a go-around, the aircraft crashed into an informal settlement in Kampung Seri Menanti, resulting in 34 fatalities, including two crew members.[9]
Earlier incidents at the airport included a crash on March 20, 1995, when a Cessna Caravan cargo plane crashed into residential houses due to a failed take-off. Additionally, in October 2001, a Boeing 737 went off the runway, but fortunately, there were no injuries reported.
Detailed inspection and new building
[edit]A survey found that the old Tawau Airport had one of the shortest runways in Malaysia. The airport's runway would need to be extended (or a new airport built) to safely accommodate larger aircraft. In view of this, the government announced plans to construct a new airport to be located in the close to the Balung area (approximately 4 km from the Airport Tawau terminal building) , 30 km (19 mi) east of downtown Tawau along the Tawau - Lahad Datu Highway.
New Airport
[edit]Opening and initial developments
[edit]The new Tawau Airport began operations in December 2001. Direct flights to Kuala Lumpur were introduced in 2002, followed by services to Johor Bahru in 2006.[10] The airport was officially inaugurated by Malaysia's then Transport Minister, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik, in 2003. With an annual capacity exceeding 1.4 million passengers, it is the second-largest airport in Sabah, after Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
AirAsia launched flights to Singapore in 2010 and to Kuching in 2018; however, both routes were later discontinued due to insufficient passenger demand. In 2018, the airport handled 1,642,171 passengers and recorded 15,579 aircraft movements.[1]
Facilities
[edit]
Tawau Airport features a 2,685-meter by 47-meter (8,809-foot by 154-foot) runway, designated as Runway 06/24, with Runway 24 equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS). The terminal building, which has one and a half stories, includes two aerobridges and can accommodate up to eight aircraft simultaneously.[11]
The parking lot has space for 500 vehicles. Additionally, a police station is situated across from the terminal. The upgraded facilities support night operations, a significant improvement over the limited capabilities of the previous airport.
Regional connectivity
[edit]Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tawau Airport provided international flights to Tarakan, Indonesia and Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. These routes were operated by MASWings and RB Link, facilitating travel between Tawau and these locations.
In 2019, Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group, announced plans for AirAsia to commence direct flights from Tawau to various cities in China, Korea, Japan and other ASEAN destinations by 2020. This expansion was motivated by Tawau's proximity to major ecotourism attractions such as Tun Sakaran Marine Park, Mabul, Sipadan Island, Maliau Basin and Danum Valley in southeast Sabah.[12]
Additionally, Assafal P. Alian, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah, proposed reinstating flights between Tawau and Makassar due to strong demand.[13] Furthermore, the Deputy for Infrastructure in Nunukan, Indonesia, requested a direct air link to Tawau, noting substantial passenger and cargo traffic, with approximately 30,000 passengers commuting between the two locations each month.[14]
In 2021, amid disruptions in supply chains caused by the pandemic, MASkargo began operating twice-weekly flights to Hong Kong. These flights utilized a converted Airbus A330-300 from Malaysia Airlines, which was specially configured for cargo operations. This service aimed to address the increased demand for air freight during this period.[15]
Expansion and capacity issues
[edit]
The airport was slated for expansion following a record of 1.64 million passengers in 2018, exceeding its original capacity of 1.4 million. With a 19.4% increase in passenger numbers that year, it ranked fourth in the country for passenger growth, behind Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Penang International Airports.[16] The expansion project, originally expected to start by late 2019, aimed to increase the airport’s capacity to 2.5 million passengers annually, along with upgrades to facilities and improvements to the shopping experience.[16][17]
As of 2022, Tawau Airport continued to face capacity issues. Problems included insufficient immigration lanes, limited seating in the terminal, and inadequate aircraft bays during peak times, leading to congestion. Despite efforts by local politicians and Malaysian Airports to advocate for expansion, no plans had been approved by the Ministry of Transport. A 2019 study by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) revealed that the airport was operating at 130% of its capacity, driven by a surge in domestic travel and its role as the main gateway for tourists to Semporna, without corresponding capacity adjustments to accommodate the increased demand.[18]
In July 2023, Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB) allocated RM11 million for a facelift improvement program. This upgrade includes additional toilets, an enhanced check-in area, an expanded departure lounge, more retail spaces, and the installation of additional air-conditioning in the hall.[19]
The Malaysian Government is also considering further expansion of Tawau Airport as part of the Twelfth Malaysia Plan, through its Rolling Plan (RP4). This proposed expansion aims to increase the terminal’s passenger capacity from 1.5 million to 2.5 million annually.[20][21]
Recent developments and new international destinations
[edit]In 2023, the state Minister of Tourism, YB Datuk Christina Liew said there's also proposal to have charter flights from Seoul in South Korea and Shanghai in China to Tawau due to high and popular demand.[22][23] In 2024, new international services were introduced, including flights to Chengdu–Tianfu, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Macau, operated by Firefly and Batik Air.
Airlines and destinations
[edit]| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| AirAsia | Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur–International |
| Batik Air Malaysia | Chengdu–Tianfu,[24] Kuala Lumpur–International,[25] Macau, Nanjing (begins 2 August 2024)[26] Charter: Guangzhou |
| Firefly | Kota Kinabalu, Macau[27] Charter: Chengdu–Tianfu, Nanjing |
| Malaysia Airlines | Kuala Lumpur–International |
| MASwings | Sandakan |
Cargo
[edit]| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| MASkargo | Seasonal: Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur–International |
| World Cargo Airlines | Kuala Lumpur–International, Miri |
| Raya Airways | Kuala Lumpur–International, Kota Kinabalu |
Traffic and statistics
[edit]Traffic
[edit]Year | Passengers handled | Passenger % Change | Cargo (tonnes) | Cargo % Change | Aircraft Movements | Aircraft % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 551,168 |  | 2,701 | | 8,368 | |
| 2004 | 620,847 |  12.6 | 2,968 | 9.9 | 8,900 |  6.4 |
| 2005 | 680,901 | 9.7 | 3,885 | 30.9 | 9,814 | 10.3 |
| 2006 | 660,331 | 3.0 | 3,030 | 22.0 | 9,215 | 6.1 |
| 2007 | 736,646 | 11.6 | 2,134 | 29.6 | 7,992 | 13.3 |
| 2008 | 768,967 | 4.4 | 1,262 | 40.9 | 8,546 | 6.9 |
| 2009 | 866,601 | 12.7 | 1,951 | 54.6 | 9,876 | 15.6 |
| 2010 | 897,848 | 3.6 | 3,045 | 56.1 | 10,845 | 9.8 |
| 2011 | 922,452 | 2.7 | 3,198 | 5.0 | 10,186 | 6.1 |
| 2012 | 982,153 | 6.5 | 2,489 | 22.2 | 11,087 | 8.8 |
| 2013 | 1,202,344 | 22.4 | 2,844 | 14.3 | 13,896 | 26.5 |
| 2014 | 1,218,616 | 1.4 | 3,265 | 14.8 | 14,396 | 3.6 |
| 2015 | 1,203,792 | 1.2 | 3,910 | 19.8 | 14,007 | 2.7 |
| 2016 | 1,271,915 | 5.7 | 3,570 | 8.7 | 13,280 | 5.2 |
| 2017 | 1,374,893 | 8.1 | 3,884 | 8.8 | 12,949 | 2.5 |
| 2018 | 1,642,171 | 19.4 | 4,060 | 4.5 | 15,579 | 20.3 |
| 2019 | 1,833,540 | 11.7 | 3,893 | 4.1 | 15,871 | 1.9 |
| 2020 | 572,365 | 68.8 | 5,071 | 30.3 | 7,022 | 55.8 |
| Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad[28] | ||||||
Statistics
[edit]| Rank | Destination | Frequency (Weekly) | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | 53 | AK, MH, OD |
| 2 |  Kuala Lumpur | 52 | AK, MH |
| 3 | Sandakan, Sabah | 7 | MH |
| 4 |  Johor Bahru, Johor | 4 | AK |
Incidents and accidents
[edit]- On 18 April 2024, over 2,000 passengers were left stranded at Tawau Airport due to flight cancellations resulting from the volcanic eruption of Gunung Ruang in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.[29]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Tawau Airport, Sabah at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
- ^ a b WBK - TAWAU at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia
- ^ Colonial Reports - North Borneo 1951. London: Her Majesty Stationery Office. 1951. p. 7.
- ^ Colonial Reports - North Borneo 1953 (PDF). London: Her Majesty Stationery Office. 1954. p. 127.
- ^ "Borneo Airways". Timetable Images. 2011. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- ^ North Borneo Annual Report 1962. London: Her Majesty Stationery Office. 1953. p. 178.
- ^ "Bouraq Indonesia Airlines". Timetable Images. 2011. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- ^ "Sepenggal Kenangan dengan Merpati". Kompasiana. 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- ^ "Plane Overshoots Runway, Crashes, Killing 34 People". 16 September 1995. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ^ "AirAsia Announces 2002 Financial Results". Breaking Travel News. 16 January 2003. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ "WBKW Tawau Airport", skyvector, 2023, retrieved 2024-07-27
- ^ International AirAsia flights to S’kan and Tawau early next year
- ^ Hamzah Sanudin (2018-11-26). "Penerbangan Tawau Makassar Bakal Wujud". Utusan Borneo (Sabah). Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- ^ Tim NN (2019-09-03). "Tinggal Selangkah Lagi Nunukan Segera Miliki Bandara Internasional". Nusantara News. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- ^ {maskargo launches inaugural tawau hong kong}[1]
- ^ a b "Guangzhou-Tawau direct flights to start January 2020". 28 June 2019.
- ^ "Tawau Airport study ready April". Daily Express. 2019-11-03. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- ^ {mavcom study}[2]
- ^ "RM8.4mil allocated for KKIA upgrades, RM11mil for Tawau airport". the star. 25 July 2023.
- ^ "KK Airport expansion under consideration". the edge malaysia. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "MAHB Airport Masterplans For Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau". hlarchitecture. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "Koreans may fly direct to Tawau soon: Liew". Daily Express. 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Many in China unaware of Sabah, say country's tourism players". The Borneo Post. 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Batik Air Malaysia 3Q24 Chengdu Service Expansion". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Batik Air Malaysia Feb 2024 Domestic Routes Addition". Aeroroutes. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Batik Air Malaysia Moves Tawau – Nanjing Service to August 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Firefly adds Tawau – Macau from July 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Malaysia Airports: Airports Statistics 2020" (PDF). malaysiaairports. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Gunung Ruang eruption: Over 2,000 stranded at Tawau Airport as flights cancelled", New Strait Times, 18 April 2024, retrieved 2024-04-19
External links
[edit]
- Tawau Airport, Sabah at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
- Current weather for WBKW at NOAA/NWS
- Accident history for TWU at Aviation Safety Network
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