Tawau Airport
Tawau Airport Lapangan Terbang Tawau | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 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 | |||||||||||
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| 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. Is the nearest airport to the diving islands of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and Tun Sakaran Marine Park, all of which are located in Semporna. The airport also serves as a gateway to Maliau Basin and Danum Valley, both significant conservation areas in the region.
In 2023, Tawau Airport recorded 1,710,472 passenger movements, ranking as the 8th busiest airport in Malaysia.
Old Airport (1953-2001)
[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 737-200 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.
Planning and development for a new airport
[edit]A survey revealed that the old Tawau Airport possessed one of the shortest runways in Malaysia. This limitation necessitated either an extension of the existing runway or the construction of a new airport to safely accommodate larger aircraft.
In response to this need, the government announced plans to develop a new airport situated near the Balung area, approximately 4 km from the current Tawau Airport terminal building. The proposed location is about 30 km (19 mi) east of downtown Tawau along the Tawau - Lahad Datu Highway.
New Airport
[edit]Inauguration and initial progress
[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. In its first year of operation in 2002, the airport handled 495,462 passengers and recorded 6,928 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. Additionally, AirAsia had initiated flights to Singapore in 2010 and to Kuching in 2018, but both routes were subsequently discontinued due to insufficient passenger demand at those times.
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, citing substantial passenger and cargo traffic, with around 30,000 passengers traveling between Nunukan and Tawau each months. [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] By 2019, the number of passengers grew further to 1,833,540, marking an additional 11.8% increase.
The expansion project, initially anticipated to commence by late 2019, was designed to address the increasing passenger traffic and enhance the overall airport experience. This included upgrading facilities and enhancing the shopping experience. The primary goal of this project was to increase the airport's capacity to accommodate up to 2.5 million passengers annually.[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]
In October 2024, the Malaysian Government has approved the expansion project. An estimated budget of RM130mil has been allocated with construction set to begin in January 2025 and will conclude in the end of 2027.[22]
Route proposals 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. This initiative was in response to the significant demand for such connections.[23][24] Previously, in June 2022, then-Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin suggested expanding direct flights between Changi Airport and Sabah's east coast towns, including Sandakan and Tawau, to Singapore's Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs, Sim Ann. This initiative aimed to enhance tourism by promoting attractions such as Pulau Sipadan and the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre.[25]
Additionally, Philippines AirAsia[26] and Shanghai Airlines[27] are also considering launching direct flights from Manila and Shanghai to Tawau in order to meet travel demands. In October 2024, Aris Heru Utomo, the Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Tawau, proposed reinstating the Makassar-Tawau flight route, noting the significant number of people from South Sulawesi residing in Tawau.[28]
On 23 January 2024, new overseas services were introduced, beginning with charter flights to Nanjing, which take approximately five hours, marking the first medium-haul flight to the east coast of Sabah.[29] This reestablished international connections at Tawau Airport, which previously operated international flights to Tarakan, Indonesia and Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, both of which were discontinued during the pandemic. In 2024, Tawau Airport hosts both chartered and scheduled flights to Chengdu–Tianfu, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Macau, operated by Firefly and Batik Air. Furthermore, in 2025, AirAsia is set to resume seasonal flights from Singapore to Tawau.[30]
Airlines and destinations
[edit]| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| AirAsia | Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur–International Seasonal: Singapore (resumes 24 January 2025, ends 3 February 2025)[30] |
| Batik Air Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur–International[31] Charter: Guangzhou |
| Firefly | Kota Kinabalu, Macau[32] |
| 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[33] | ||||||
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.[34]
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.
- ^ "Tawau airport to undergo major upgrade". BERNAMA. 7 October 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Sabah, Singapore ministers discuss flights between Changi, east coast". The Vibes. 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Philippines AirAsia eyes int'l boost for Sandakan, Malaysia". ch-aviation. 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Xiamen, Shanghai Airlines to fly to Sabah". Borneo Post. 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Rute Tawau-Makassar dan Peningkatan Infrastruktur Jalan Penghubung Sei Menggaris-Serudong Jadi Pembahasan di BIMP EAGA" (in Indonesian). Radar Tarakan. 17 October 2024.
- ^ "Tawau airport receives first international flight". The Borneo Post. 30 July 2024.
- ^ a b "AirAsia Adds Limited Time Tawau – Singapore Service in 1Q25".
- ^ "Batik Air Malaysia Feb 2024 Domestic Routes Addition". Aeroroutes. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "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
