Login
Login

Sibu Airport

{{short description|Airport in Sarawak, Malaysia}}

{{EngvarB|date=September 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}

{{Infobox airport

| name = Sibu Airport

| nativename = Lapangan Terbang Sibu

| image = Upgraded Sibu Airport.jpg

| image-width = 200

| IATA = SBW

| ICAO = WBGS

| type = Public

| owner = Government of Malaysia

| operator = Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad

| city-served = Bintangor, Sarikei, Kapit, and Sibu, Sarawak, East Malaysia

| location = Sibu, Sarawak, East Malaysia

| timezone = MST

| utc = UTC+08:00

| elevation-f = 122

| coordinates = {{coord|02|15|51|N|111|58|57|E|region:MY|display=inline,title}}

| image_map = LocationMalaysia.svg

| image_map_caption = Sarawak State in Malaysia

| pushpin_map = Borneo#Malaysia East#Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Sibu, Malaysia

| pushpin_label = SBW /WBGS

| website =

| metric-rwy = y

| r1-number = 13/31

| r1-length-m = 2,745

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| stat-year = 2023

| stat1-header = Passenger

| stat1-data = 1548,423 ({{increase}} 25.4%)

| stat2-header = Airfreight (tonnes)

| stat2-data = 2,214 ({{decrease}} 26.9%)

| stat3-header = Aircraft movements

| stat3-data = 13,603 ({{increase}} 13.3%)

| footnotes = Sources: official website[http://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/index.php?ch=17&pg=55&ac=187 Sibu Airport, Sarawak] at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
AIP Malaysia[http://aip.dca.gov.my/aip%20pdf/AD/AD2/WBGS/WBGS-%20Sibu.pdf WBGS – SIBU] at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia

}}

Sibu Airport {{airport codes|SBW|WBGS}} is an airport located {{Convert|23|km|abbr=on}} east south east of Sibu, a town in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia. In 2018, the airport handled 1,579,528 passengers on 20,869 flights and also handled 1,443 metric tonnes of cargo. The airport is the 11th busiest airport in Malaysia, and the 3rd busiest in Sarawak in terms of passengers handled.

In April 2009, the airport was given RM 150 million for an upgrade of the terminal building. On 23 September 2010, Sarawak Minister of Finance and Public Health, Dato' Sri Wong Soon Koh had announced that the expansion project would commence.

The upgraded terminal started its operation on 31 July 2012.[http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/01/new-sibu-airport-terminal-commences-operation/ New Sibu airport terminal commences operation] The airport terminal is the third largest airport terminal in Sarawak after Kuching International Airport and Miri International Airport, with a total terminal floor space of 15,240 m2.{{cite web|title=Tender Briefing for Package Deal (Sarawak) |url=https://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/sites/corporate/files/2019-04/PD%20Tender%20Briefing%20-%20Sarawak%20Region.pdf |accessdate=10 July 2019 |publisher=MAHB |date=15 March 2019 }}

History

=1952-1994=

File:Sibu Airport control tower in 1992.jpg

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. Reconstruction work on the airport began in 1951. Initially, the runway was constructed at 3,600 feet by 150 feet. First plane landed at the airport on 21 May 1952. The airport opened to regular service on 1 July 1952. Malayan Airways did transit flights from Singapore to Kuching, Sibu and stop at Labuan on every Tuesdays. This was followed by transit flights of the same aircraft follow the same route back to Singapore on the next day. Another flight was operated by Douglas Dakota from Singapore to Kuching, Sibu, and stopped at North Borneo on Fridays. The same flight would follow the same route back to Singapore on the next day. The runway was extended to 4,500 feet by 150 feet in 1959.{{cite book|last1=Ah Chon|first1=Ho|title=Kuching in Pictures (1950–1959)|publisher=Sarawak state library (Pustaka Negeri Sarawak)|location=Kuching|url=http://library.perdana.org.my/Digital_Content/PNS/rare/Kuching%201950-1959%20Sir%20Anthony%20Foster%20Abells%20Era%20Vol%201%20%5BHo%20Ah%20Chon%5D.pdf|accessdate=2 February 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202062706/http://library.perdana.org.my/Digital_Content/PNS/rare/Kuching%201950-1959%20Sir%20Anthony%20Foster%20Abells%20Era%20Vol%201%20%5BHo%20Ah%20Chon%5D.pdf|archivedate=2 February 2018|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web |title=Saturday 25 August 1990 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900825-0 |publisher=aviation-safety.net |access-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821034231/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900825-0 |archive-date=21 August 2021}}

On 2 September 1992, a Fokker 50 aircraft landing gear failed, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and into the bushes.{{cite web |title=Wednesday 2 September 1992 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19920902-1 |publisher=aviation-safety.net |access-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821034222/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19920902-1 |archive-date=21 August 2021}}

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.

=1994-2010=

File:Interior view of Sibu Airport in 2009.jpg

Operation of the new airport officially began on 1 June 1994. The airport is located at 23 km away from the town of Sibu. On 31 May 1994, four Malaysia Airlines aircraft performed inaugural landings. The aircraft were three Fokker 50 and a Boeing 737. The airport was built with a single runway, designated as Runway 13/Runway 31. The runway at that time measured {{Convert|1981|x|45|m|abbr=on|0}}. Runway 13 was equipped with approach lighting system known as "Precision Approach Lighting Category 1", while Runway 31 was equipped with "Simple Approach Lighting System". Airside areas such as taxiways and airport apron are also equipped with lightning systems.{{cite web |title=Sibu Airport:History |url=http://www.dca-sarawak.gov.my/Airport/Sibu%20Airport/Sibu%20Airport_History.htm |publisher=DCA Sarawak |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225101130/http://www.dca-sarawak.gov.my/Airport/Sibu%20Airport/Sibu%20Airport_History.htm |access-date=9 January 2022|archive-date=25 February 2012 }} The maximum capacity of the parking apron was one Airbus, two Boeing 737-400s, two Fokker 50 and two Twin Otter or similar aircraft. Only Bay 2 and 3 were equipped with aerobridges.

The runway was later extended to 2,745 metres and commissioned for use on 9 May 2006 to accommodate the landing of Airbus.

=2010-present=

File:Sibu Airport check-in counter.JPG

In September 2010, an expansion project was underway to upgrade the terminal building and car park with the addition of more aerobridges. This upgrade increases the capacity of the airport into handling 1.9 million passengers annually. The cost of the upgrade was RM130 million.{{cite news |title=No brakes on sibu airport expansion, says Minister |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2011/04/09/no-brakes-on-sibu-airport-expansion-says-minister-latest/ |access-date=2 January 2022 |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=9 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610122130/https://www.theborneopost.com/2011/04/09/no-brakes-on-sibu-airport-expansion-says-minister-latest/ |archive-date=10 June 2021}} Brand new check-in counters of the airport were opened on 19 December 2011.{{cite news |title= Sibu Airport new check-in counters in service |author= Moh, Jane |url= http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/12/20/sibu-airport-new-check-in-counters-in-service/|newspaper= Borneo Post|date= 20 December 2011|accessdate=23 September 2012}} The upgraded Sibu Airport was inaugurated on 16 September 2012.{{cite news |title= Najib: Upgraded Sibu airport a promise fulfilled |author= Moh, Jane |url= http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/09/17/najib-upgraded-sibu-airport-a-promise-fulfilled/|newspaper= Borneo Post|date= September 2012|accessdate=23 September 2012}}

On 29 September 2014, a Singaporean training aircraft Beechcraft King Air C90B skidded off the runway during touchdown.{{cite news |title= Singapore training aircraft skids at Sibu Airport |author= Banji, Connie |url= http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/09/30/singapore-training-aircraft-skids-at-sibu-airport/|newspaper= Borneo Post|date= 30 September 2014|accessdate=30 September 2014}} No one was injured during the incident.

On 8 April 2017, Malaysia Airlines Flight 2718, operated by Boeing 737-800 9M-MXX, overran the runway on landing. The nose gear collapsed. All 67 people on board survived.{{cite web |url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4a75addd&opt=0 |title=Accident: Malaysia B738 at Sibu on Apr 8th 2017, runway excursion, nose gear collapse |first=Simon |last=Hradecky |work=The Aviation Herald |accessdate=8 April 2017}} The incident resulted in Sibu Airport closure until 10 April, and left 1,413 passengers were affected cancellations and delays of flights.{{cite web |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/04/10/cancellations-delays-affect-1413-passengers-after-mh2718-incident/ |title=Cancellations, delays affect 1,413 passengers after MH2718 incident |first=Peter |last=Boon |work=Borneo Post |date=10 April 2017 |accessdate=31 October 2017}} The airport was closed on 13 August 2019 to repair faulty lights on the runway. A total of 12 flights operated by MASwings and AirAsia were cancelled.{{cite news |last1=Banji |first1=Conny |title=12 flights at Sibu Airport cancelled, AirAsia states runway lighting failure as cause |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/08/13/12-flights-at-sibu-airport-cancelled-airasia-states-runway-lighting-failure-as-cause/ |access-date=13 January 2022 |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=13 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609132844/https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/08/13/12-flights-at-sibu-airport-cancelled-airasia-states-runway-lighting-failure-as-cause/ |archive-date=9 June 2021}} The airport resumed normal operation on the next day.{{cite news |last1=Banji |first1=Conny |title=Sibu Airport resumes normal operations after faulty runway lights repaired |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/08/14/sibu-airport-resumes-normal-operations-after-faulty-runway-lights-repaired/ |access-date=13 January 2022 |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=14 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609125059/https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/08/14/sibu-airport-resumes-normal-operations-after-faulty-runway-lights-repaired/ |archive-date=9 June 2021}}

Airlines and destinations

=Passenger=

{{Airport-dest-list

| AirAsia | Johor Bahru,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/04/475744/airasia-adds-437-extra-flights-hari-raya|title=AirAsia adds 437 extra flights for Hari Raya {{pipe}} New Straits Times|date=3 April 2019}} Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur–International, Kuching

| Batik Air Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur–International

| Malaysia Airlines | Kuala Lumpur–International

| MASwings | Bintulu, Miri, Mukah

|Scoot | Singapore{{cite web |author1=Tay Peck Gek |title=Scoot adds Koh Samui and Sibu to network with new Embraer planes |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/transport-logistics/scoot-adds-koh-samui-and-sibu-to-network-with-new-embraer-planes |website=The Business Times |publisher=SPH Media Limited |language=en |date=5 March 2024}}

|}}

=Cargo=

{{Airport-dest-list

| World Cargo Airlines | Kuala Lumpur–International, Kuching

}}

Traffic and statistics

=Traffic=

class="toccolours sortable" style="padding:0.5em;"

|+ Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics

| {{center|Year}}

! | {{center|Passengers
handled}}

! | {{center|Passenger
% change}}

! | {{center|Cargo
(tonnes)}}

! | {{center|Cargo
% change}}

! | {{center|Aircraft
movements}}

! | {{center|Aircraft
% change}}

style="background:#eee;"

|1995

624,738{{nochange}}2,455{{nochange}}18,905{{nochange}}
style="background:#eee;"

|1996

654,785{{increase}} 4.811,758{{decrease}} 28.3920,243{{increase}} 7.08
style="background:#eee;"

|1997

631,701{{decrease}} 3.531,904{{increase}} 8.3019,551{{decrease}} 3.42
style="background:#eee;"

|1998

555,483{{decrease}} 12.071,499{{decrease}} 21.2717,099{{decrease}} 12.54
style="background:#eee;"

|1999

620,830{{increase}} 11.761,745{{increase}} 16.4116,096{{decrease}} 5.87
style="background:#eee;"

|2000

657,375{{increase}} 5.891,874{{increase}} 7.3915,743{{decrease}} 2.19
style="background:#eee;"

|2001

725,449{{increase}} 10.362,006{{increase}} 7.0416,995{{increase}} 7.95
style="background:#eee;"

|2002

759,704{{increase}} 4.721,916{{decrease}} 4.4917,113{{increase}} 0.69
style="background:#eee;"

|2003

817,687{{increase}} 7.631,701{{decrease}} 11.2216,885{{decrease}} 1.33
style="background:#eee;"

|2004

903,108{{increase}} 10.451,567{{decrease}} 7.8817,650{{increase}} 4.53
style="background:#eee;"

|2005

920,930{{increase}} 1.971,377{{decrease}} 12.1317,330{{decrease}} 1.81
style="background:#eee;"

|2006

898,923{{decrease}} 2.391,040{{decrease}} 24.4715,638{{decrease}} 9.76
style="background:#eee;"

|2007

809,955{{decrease}} 9.90892{{decrease}} 14.2312,536{{decrease}} 19.84
style="background:#eee;"

|2008

831,772{{increase}} 2.70735{{decrease}} 17.5014,672{{increase}} 17.00
style="background:#eee;"

|2009

939,732{{increase}} 12.98856{{increase}} 16.4617,449{{increase}} 18.93
style="background:#eee;"

|2010

1,009,002{{increase}} 7.401,133{{increase}} 32.3518,985{{increase}} 8.80
style="background:#eee;"

|2011

1,133,903{{increase}} 12.291,153{{increase}} 1.7718,211{{decrease}} 4.08
style="background:#eee;"

|2012

1,204,267{{increase}} 6.21,612{{increase}} 39.815,923{{decrease}} 12.56
style="background:#eee;"

|2013

1,383,887{{increase}} 14.91,413{{decrease}} 12.317,196{{increase}} 8.0
style="background:#eee;"

|2014

1,440,935{{increase}} 4.11,460{{increase}} 3.322,508{{increase}} 30.9
style="background:#eee;"

|2015

1,454,360{{increase}} 0.91,304{{decrease}} 10.721,172{{increase}} 5.9
style="background:#eee;"

|2016

1,469,341{{increase}} 1.01,048{{decrease}} 19.624,806{{increase}} 14.6
style="background:#eee;"

|2017

1,497,412{{increase}} 1.91,285{{increase}} 22.618,598{{decrease}} 25.0
style="background:#eee;"

|2018

1,579,528{{increase}} 5.51,443{{increase}} 12.220,869{{increase}} 12.2
style="background:#eee;"

|2019

1,750,876{{increase}} 10.91,259{{decrease}} 12.816,748{{decrease}} 19.7
style="background:#eee;"

|2020

569,625{{decrease}} 67.51,406{{increase}} 11.77,122{{decrease}} 54.5
- style="background:#eee;"

|2021

242,451{{decrease}} 57.41,633{{increase}} 16.13,523{{decrease}} 50.5
style="background:#eee;"

|2022

1,234,473{{increase}} 409.23,027{{increase}} 85.412,008{{increase}} 240.8
style="background:#eee;"

|2023

1,548,423{{increase}} 25.42,214{{decrease}} 26.913,603{{increase}} 13.3
colspan="7" style="text-align:right;"| Source: Ministry of Transport (Malaysia) {{cite web|url=http://annualreport2018.malaysiaairports.com.my/downloads/airportstatistics2018.pdf|title=Malaysia Airports: Airports Statistics 2018 |publisher=malaysiaairports|date=2 April 2019 |accessdate=14 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mot.gov.my/en/aviation/reports/quarterly-statistics-of-transport|title=Statistic of Aviation Transport|publisher=MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT MALAYSIA OFFICIAL PORTAL |accessdate=26 October 2024}}

=Statistics=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; align=center;"

|+ Busiest domestic flights out of Sibu Airport by frequency as of April 2024

style="background:darkgrey;"

! |Rank

|Destinations|Frequency
(weekly)		|Airlines
1

|{{flagicon|Kuala Lumpur}} Kuala Lumpur

|49

|AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Batir Air Malaysia

2

|{{flagicon|Sarawak}} Kuching, Sarawak

|34

|AirAsia

3

|{{flagicon|Sarawak}} Miri, Sarawak

|25

|MASwings

4

|{{flagicon|Sarawak}} Bintulu, Sarawak

|7

|MASwings

4

|{{flagicon|Sabah}} Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

|7

|AirAsia

4

|{{flagicon|Johor}} Johor Bahru, Johor

|7

|AirAsia

7

|{{flagicon|Sarawak}} Mukah, Sarawak

|3

|MASwings

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; align=center;"

|+ Traffic movements between Sibu Airport

style="background:darkgrey;"

! |From

|To|2008|2009|2010|2011|2012|2013|2014|2015|2016|2017|2018
Sibu

|Kuala Lumpur

|167,582

|185,734

|216,571

|227,381

|247,624

|301,394

|309,103

|325,257

|344,863

|359,836

|368,803

Kuala Lumpur

|Sibu

|169,787

|187,536

|218,651

|232,530

|246,075

|300,070

|308,265

|326,003

|345,427

|364,552

|365,752

Sibu

|Kuching

|35,136

|156,361

|167,033

|206,421

|215,094

|233,064

|239,622

|236,735

|226,719

|232,813

|260,446

Kuching

|Sibu

|32,801

|153,711

|162,872

|198,833

|216,898

|230,304

|236,371

|238,600

|228,843

|234,019

|259,492

Sibu

|Miri

|31,926

|32,177

|32,318

|4,718

|51,570

|53,761

|58,522

|50,756

|50,778

|45,114

|46,510

Miri

|Sibu

|26,028

|32,730

|32,941

|4,443

|49,469

|52,265

|56,179

|50,498

|51,091

|44,648

|47,214

Sibu

|Bintulu

|5,402

|10,358

|12,973

|16,888

|10,687

|10,524

|12,192

|10,466

|10,576

|10,570

|11,829

Bintulu

|Sibu

|1,263

|784

|106

|12,831

|13,881

|10,396

|11,383

|11,568

|11,407

|10,104

|11,274

Sibu

|KotaKinabalu

|18,340

|47,365

|40,133

|38,319

|35,227

|34,961

|35,808

|34,993

|34,832

|31,986

|30,497

KotaKinabalu

|Sibu

|28,549

|48,234

|40,101

|42,413

|42,690

|36,485

|38,166

|34,826

|34,337

|33,027

|29,674

colspan="13" style="text-align:right;"| Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad{{cite web|url=http://www.mot.gov.my/en/resources/yearly-statistic|title=Malaysia Airports Yearly Statistic}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; align=center;"

|+ Sector traffic movements between Sibu Airport

style="background:darkgrey;"

! |Sector

|2008|2009|2010|2011|2012|2013|2014|2015|2016|2017|2018
Sibu<->KualaLumpur

|337,369

|373,270

|435,222

|459,911

|493,699

|601,464

|617,368

|651,260

|690,290

|724,388

|734,555

Sibu<->Kuching

|67,937

|310,072

|329,905

|405,254

|431,992

|463,368

|475,993

|475,335

|455,562

|466,832

|519,938

Sibu<->Miri

|57,954

|64,907

|65,259

|9,161

|101,039

|106,026

|114,701

|101,254

|101,869

|89,762

|93,724

Sibu<->Bintulu

|6,665

|11,142

|13,079

|29,719

|24,568

|20,920

|23,575

|22,034

|21,983

|20,674

|23,103

Sibu<->KotaKinabalu

|46,889

|95,599

|80,234

|80,732

|77,917

|71,446

|73,974

|69,819

|69,169

|65,013

|60,171

colspan="12" style="text-align:right;"| Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category|Sibu Airport}}

{{Portal|Aviation}}

  • {{NWS-current|WBGS}}
  • {{ASN|SBW}}

{{Airports in Malaysia}}

{{Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Airports in Sarawak

Category:Airports established in 1994

Category:Sibu

Category:1994 establishments in Malaysia