Limbang Airport

Limbang Airport (IATA: LMN, ICAO: WBGJ) is an airport serving the town of Limbang, in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia. The airport is 4.8 km (3.0 mi) from the town centre.[2] The airport opened on the 15 July 2004, and is capable of handling 250,000 passengers per year. It is able to handle large turboprop aircraft such as the Fokker F50 and the ATR 72-500. In 2008, the airport handled 49,181 passengers, 2,112 aircraft movements and 474,513 kg (1,046,122 lb) of cargo.[1]

Limbang Airport

Lapangan Terbang Limbang
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Malaysia
OperatorMalaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
ServesLimbang, Sarawak, East Malaysia
Opened7 April 2004
Time zoneMST (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL9 ft / 3 m
Coordinates04°48′29″N 115°00′37″E
Map
WBGG
Location in East Malaysia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 1,500 4,921 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Passenger55,437 ( 4.9%)
Airfreight (tonnes)466 ( 17.5%)
Aircraft movements3,221 ( 13.1%)
Sources: official web site[1]
AIP Malaysia[2]

History

The old Limbang STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) airfield was built in 1963 by the British Army for use during the confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia. Situated beside Mas Hill (Bukit Mas), about 3 mi (4.8 km) from the town of Limbang. The old airfield did not meet the safety requirements of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). Furthermore, the old airfield was surrounded by mountains and the approach path was covered by tall vegetation such as trees, combined with the relatively high ground. This makes it particularly hazardous and difficult for civilian aircraft to operate safely into and out of the airfield.

In 1978, a consultant firm was appointed to select a new site for a completely new airport and thus proceeded with the Master Plan Study regarding the layout of the new airport. The development plan of the new airport back then is to accommodate the Fokker F27 turboprop aircraft operation in the beginning and thereafter Boeing 737-200 jet aircraft operation.

After lengthy delays, the new Limbang Airport project started in the year 2000 and was completed in only four years. The airport was officially opened on 7 April 2004, and full operational use followed on 15 April 2004. The new runway is 1,500 m (4,921 ft)[2] long and is well suited to accommodate de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, Fokker 50 and ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. The new airport is located about 4.8 km (3.0 mi) north west of the town of Limbang.[2]

Currently, Malaysia Airlines' subsidiary MASWings operates into and out of the airport. Other operators include Medevac and logging helicopters, and private turboprop powered aircraft. Previous users of the airport were Malaysia Airlines and former Air Asia subsidiary FAX (Fly Asian Express).

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Malaysia Airlines
operated by MASwings 		Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Lawas, Miri

Traffic and statistics
Annual passenger and aircraft statistics[3]
Year PassengersAircraft movements
2003
83,459
5,046
2004
96,209
5,691
2005
105,652
5,568
2006
89,814
4,366
2007
50,107
2,552
2008
49,181
2,112
2009
45,512
1,949
2010
50,044
2,171
2011
56,211
1,968
2012
57,852
1,880
2013
61,074
2,075
2014
63,870
2,660
2015
58,300
2,849
Annual cargo statistics
Year Cargo handled (metric tonnes)
2003
226
2004
179
2005
289
2006
379
2007
440
2008
475
2009
530
2010
560
2011
498
2012
744
2013
742
2014
596
2015
565

References
  1. Limbang Airport at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
  2. WBGJ - LIMBANG at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia
  3. "MAHB Annual Report 2015" (PDF). Malaysia Airports. 6 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
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