Sibu Airport

The Sibu Airport control tower in 1992.

The first airport in Sibu was built in Teku, during World War II by the Japanese as a basic air strip. However, the airstrip was heavily bombed by Allied Forces. After the war, the airport was further developed to house basic airport amenities such as departure lounge and public waiting area. The first plane landed at Sibu airport on 21 May 1952.[5] The airport was capable to support Fokker F27 Friendship (and later Fokker 50) and Twin Otter flights.

On 15 August 1990, a Lockheed C-130H Hercules belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force skidded off the runway and the aircraft had been written off. It was believed that those on board are part of the royal entourage visit to Sibu.[6]

On 2 September 1992, a Fokker 50 aircraft landing gear failed, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and into the bushes.[7]

The old airport has been demolished to make way for Laila Taib College (formerly known as UCS-United College of Sarawak) and Tun Zaidi Stadium. The runway of the old airport can still be seen and half of it is used as the connecting road for the stadium.

The check-in counters after upgrade completion

Operation of the new airport officially began 1 June 1994. On 31 May 1994 the inaugural landing of four Malaysia Airlines aircraft occurred. The aircraft were three Fokker 50 and a Boeing 737. They were the pioneers to land on the Sibu New Airport runway which at that time measured 1,981 m × 45 m (6,499 ft × 148 ft).

On that remarkably historical night, the air traffic clearance "Clear to land" was issued from the Sibu Air Traffic Control Tower on the assigned frequency 122.6 MHz to the first Boeing 737-500 to land on the asphalt surface of the designated runway 13.

That night not only marked the first landing of a turbo-prop commercial aircraft on Sibu ground but subsequently it also commemorated the commencement of operation of the new airport located 23 km (14 mi) east south east[2] Sibu town.

Sibu New Airport was built with a single runway designated as runway 13/31. It was previously 1,981 m × 45 m (6,499 ft × 148 ft) but since the completion of the extension under the 7th Malaysian Plan (RMK7) for 'Sibu Airport Development Plan', the length was extended to 2,745 m (9,006 ft), and the new runway length was commissioned for use on 9 May 2006. The extended length is able to cater to landing of an Airbus A330 or other wide bodied jet aircraft.

Runway 13 is equipped with an approach lighting system called Precision Approach Lighting Category 1, whereas runway 31 with Simple Approach Lighting System. The other airside areas such as the taxiways (‘A’ and ‘B’) and apron are also furnished with appropriate lighting aids. The maximum capacity of the parking apron is one Airbus, two Boeing 737-400s, two Fokker 50 and two Twin Otter or similar aircraft. Only bay 2 and 3 are equipped with aerobridges functioning on Visual Docking and Guidance System. The functional runway is also equipped with landing aids such as the Middle Marker (MM), Glide Path (GP), the Localizer (LLZ) and the PAPI. All the stated instruments are installed to be utilised by aircraft to assist them during the final approach process and landing manoeuvres.[8]

The airport underwent an expansion project that involved upgrading of the terminal building, car park and the addition of more aerobridges. This makes the airport capable of handling 1.9 million passengers annually. The cost of the expansion was RM130 million.[9]

The brand new check-in counters of the airport were opened on 19 December 2011.[10] The upgraded Sibu Airport was inaugurated on 16 September 2012.[11]