Tawau International Airport
Encyclopedia
"RAF Tawau" & "Tawau Airbase/Airfield" redirects here.
Tawau Airport (Malay
: Lapangan Terbang Tawau) is an airport
located in Tawau
, a town in the state of Sabah
in Malaysia. It is the second airport in Sabah with immigration counters for international flights. The airport is 31 km from town. The new runway could cater for aircraft as big as Airbus series. The airport currently handles only domestic flights from Kota Kinabalu
, Sandakan
and Kuala Lumpur
. International flights to Tarakan
in East Kalimantan
, Indonesia
are currently suspended.
Like other airports in the country, Tawau Airport is under the management of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd
.
Tawau airport is the nearest airport to the diving islands of Sipadan
, Mabul
and Kapalai
.
During the early days, Tawau airport was located on Jalan Utara, literally known as Northern road about 2 miles away from Tawau. The airport was officially opened in 1968 by the former Transport Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Haji Sardon. It was only used to cater to small aircraft, such as Fokker 50.
However on 15 September 1995, a Malaysian Airlines Fokker 50 from Kota Kinabalu touched down 500m before the end of the 2200m long runway. While attempting to carry out a go-around, the aircraft crashed into a Malay village, kampung Seri Menanti, causing 34 fatalities including two crews.
Another MAS Boeing 737-400 plane was skidded off the runway in October 2001 without any causing any injuries to the passengers.
Tawau New Airport
At present, this airport is being expanded to accommodate medium wide-body aircraft with 2 aerobridges. In 2008, the airport handled 700,859 passengers, 19,328 aircraft movements and over 8,900 metric tonnes of cargo. The airport is able to handle over 1.8 million passengers per year.[1]
According to a survey, the old airport has one of the shortest runways in the country. Soon, a new international airport was in the government blue plan to shift Tawau airport to a new location along Tawau – Semporna highway, 30 km from Tawau.
The airport was subsequently opened to public in December 2001. In year 2003, Tawau Airport was officially launched by the former Transport Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik
. Tawau Airport became the second largest airport in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
Tawau airport has a 2682m long fully service runway, namely runway 06 and runway 24. Runway 24 is equipped with Instrument Landing System(ILS) while runway 06 doesn't.
The terminal is a one and a half stories building, which consists of 2 aerobridges, and its large appron can accommodate 8 aircraft at one time.
Open air car park is provided with 500 parking lots.
An airport police station is located just at the opposite of the main terminal building.
Taxi coupon or town shuttle bus ticket to Tawau or Semporna
can be bought at the respective counters inside the terminal.
In 2008, 768,967 passengers went through the airport with 10,546 aircraft movements.
Flight 2133, a Fokker 50 crashed into a squatter village while attempting to make a go-around at the old airport. 34 of the 53 passengers and crew on board were killed.
Tawau Airport (Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
: Lapangan Terbang Tawau) is an airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in Tawau
Tawau
Tawau is the administrative center of Tawau Division, Malaysia and the third largest town of Sabah after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.-Geography:...
, a town in the state of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
in Malaysia. It is the second airport in Sabah with immigration counters for international flights. The airport is 31 km from town. The new runway could cater for aircraft as big as Airbus series. The airport currently handles only domestic flights from Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
, Sandakan
Sandakan
Sandakan is the second-largest city in Sabah, East Malaysia, on the north-eastern coast of Borneo. It is located on the east coast of the island and it is the administrative centre of Sandakan Division and was the former capital of British North Borneo...
and Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. International flights to Tarakan
Juwata Airport
Juwata Airport is an airport in Tarakan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located on the island of Tarakan which is off the coast of Borneo. The airport was the main Allied objective during the Battle of Tarakan ....
in East Kalimantan
East Kalimantan
East Kalimantan is the second largest Indonesian province, located on the Kalimantan region on the east of Borneo island. The resource-rich province has two major cities, Samarinda and Balikpapan...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
are currently suspended.
Like other airports in the country, Tawau Airport is under the management of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd
Malaysia Airports
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad is a Malaysian airport company that manages most of the airports in Malaysia. The firm was recently awarded the duty to manage airports in international destinations...
.
Tawau airport is the nearest airport to the diving islands of Sipadan
Sipadan
Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising from the seabed. It is located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast of Sabah, East Malaysia . It was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop...
, Mabul
Mabul
Mabul is a small island off the south-eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia. The island has been a fishing village since 1970s. Then in 1990s, it first became popular to divers due to its proximity to Sipadan island....
and Kapalai
Kapalai
Kapalai is an island in Malaysia, known for its scuba resorts.The island of Kapalai, just 15 minutes off Sipadan, was a beautiful island two hundred years ago, but now it is only a sand bar. Erosion has reduced the island to sea level and the village now sits on the edge of the extensive Ligitan...
.
History
However on 15 September 1995, a Malaysian Airlines Fokker 50 from Kota Kinabalu touched down 500m before the end of the 2200m long runway. While attempting to carry out a go-around, the aircraft crashed into a Malay village, kampung Seri Menanti, causing 34 fatalities including two crews.
Another MAS Boeing 737-400 plane was skidded off the runway in October 2001 without any causing any injuries to the passengers.
Tawau New Airport
At present, this airport is being expanded to accommodate medium wide-body aircraft with 2 aerobridges. In 2008, the airport handled 700,859 passengers, 19,328 aircraft movements and over 8,900 metric tonnes of cargo. The airport is able to handle over 1.8 million passengers per year.[1]
According to a survey, the old airport has one of the shortest runways in the country. Soon, a new international airport was in the government blue plan to shift Tawau airport to a new location along Tawau – Semporna highway, 30 km from Tawau.
The airport was subsequently opened to public in December 2001. In year 2003, Tawau Airport was officially launched by the former Transport Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik
Ling Liong Sik
Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik is a retired Malaysian politician.He was president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, and the Malaysian Minister for Transport...
. Tawau Airport became the second largest airport in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
Overview
Tawau Airport is located at Balung, 3KM further in from airport highway. Tawau Airport was to be built as the most southeast international airport in Malaysia.- Runway
Tawau airport has a 2682m long fully service runway, namely runway 06 and runway 24. Runway 24 is equipped with Instrument Landing System(ILS) while runway 06 doesn't.
- Airport Terminal
The terminal is a one and a half stories building, which consists of 2 aerobridges, and its large appron can accommodate 8 aircraft at one time.
- Car Park
Open air car park is provided with 500 parking lots.
- Police Station
An airport police station is located just at the opposite of the main terminal building.
- Taxi and Town Shuttle Bus Service
Taxi coupon or town shuttle bus ticket to Tawau or Semporna
Semporna
Semporna is a town located in Tawau Division, in the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Its population was estimated to be around 133,000 in 2006.-History:...
can be bought at the respective counters inside the terminal.
- Traffic and Passenger Flow
In 2008, 768,967 passengers went through the airport with 10,546 aircraft movements.
Traffic and Statistics
| Years | Passenger Movements | Aircraft Movements | Cargo Movements in Metric Tonnes | Cargo Movements in Kilograms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 551,168 | 8,368 | 2,701 | 5,954 |
| 2004 | 620,847 | 8,900 | 2,968 | 6,543 |
| 2005 | 680,901 | 9,814 | 3,885 | 8,564 |
| 2006 | 660,331 | 9,215 | 3,030 | 6,679 |
| 2007 | 736,646 | 7,992 | 2,134 | 2,133,629 |
| 2008 | 768,967 | 8,546 | 1,262 | 1,262,197 |
Airlines and destinations
Incidents
On 15 September 1995, Malaysia AirlinesMalaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
Flight 2133, a Fokker 50 crashed into a squatter village while attempting to make a go-around at the old airport. 34 of the 53 passengers and crew on board were killed.
See also
- Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
- Far East Air Force (Royal Air Force)
- Former overseas RAF bases
External links
- Tawau Airport, Sabah at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad