Sibu Airport

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Sibu Airport

Lapangan Terbang Sibu
Upgraded Sibu Airport.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Malaysia
OperatorMalaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
ServesBintangor, Sarikei, Kapit, and Sibu, Sarawak, East Malaysia
LocationSibu, Sarawak, East Malaysia
Time zoneMST (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL122 ft / 37 m
Coordinates02°15′51″N 111°58′57″E / 2.26417°N 111.98250°E / 2.26417; 111.98250Coordinates: 02°15′51″N 111°58′57″E / 2.26417°N 111.98250°E / 2.26417; 111.98250
Maps
Sarawak State in Malaysia
Sarawak State in Malaysia
SBW /WBGS is located in Borneo
SBW /WBGS
SBW /WBGS
Location in Sibu , East Malaysia , Malaysia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13/31 2,745 9,006 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Passenger569,625 (Decrease 67.5%)
Airfreight (tonnes)1,406 (Increase 11.7%)
Aircraft movements7,122 (Decrease 54.5%)
Sources: official web site[1]
AIP Malaysia[2]

Sibu Airport (IATA: SBW, ICAO: WBGS) is an airport located 23 km (14 mi) east south east[2] 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.[1] 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.[3] The airport terminal is the third largest airport terminal in Sarawak after Kuching International Airport and Miri Airport, with a total terminal floor space of 15,240m².[4]

History[]

Old 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.

New airport[]

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]

Expansion project[]

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]

Airlines and destinations[]

Passenger[]

AirlinesDestinations
AirAsia Johor Bahru,[12] Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur–International, Kuching, Penang[13]
Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur–International
Malaysia Airlines
operated by MASwings 		Bintulu, Miri, Mukah
RB Link
operated by Malindo Air for Royal Brunei Airlines 		Bandar Seri Begawan[14]

Cargo[]

AirlinesDestinations
World Cargo Airlines Kuala Lumpur–International, Kuching

Traffic and statistics[]

Traffic[]

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% Change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% Change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% Change
1995 624,738 Steady 2,455 Steady 18,905 Steady
1996 654,785 Increase 4.81 1,758 Decrease 28.39 20,243 Increase 7.08
1997 631,701 Decrease 3.53 1,904 Increase 8.30 19,551 Decrease 3.42
1998 555,483 Decrease 12.07 1,499 Decrease 21.27 17,099 Decrease 12.54
1999 620,830 Increase 11.76 1,745 Increase 16.41 16,096 Decrease 5.87
2000 657,375 Increase 5.89 1,874 Increase 7.39 15,743 Decrease 2.19
2001 725,449 Increase 10.36 2,006 Increase 7.04 16,995 Increase 7.95
2002 759,704 Increase 4.72 1,916 Decrease 4.49 17,113 Increase 0.69
2003 817,687 Increase 7.63 1,701 Decrease 11.22 16,885 Decrease 1.33
2004 903,108 Increase 10.45 1,567 Decrease 7.88 17,650 Increase 4.53
2005 920,930 Increase 1.97 1,377 Decrease 12.13 17,330 Decrease 1.81
2006 898,923 Decrease 2.39 1,040 Decrease 24.47 15,638 Decrease 9.76
2007 809,955 Decrease 9.90 892 Decrease 14.23 12,536 Decrease 19.84
2008 831,772 Increase 2.70 735 Decrease 17.50 14,672 Increase 17.00
2009 939,732 Increase 12.98 856 Increase 16.46 17,449 Increase 18.93
2010 1,009,002 Increase 7.40 1,133 Increase 32.35 18,985 Increase 8.80
2011 1,133,903 Increase 12.29 1,153 Increase 1.77 18,211 Decrease 4.08
2012 1,204,267 Increase 6.2 1,612 Increase 39.8 15,923 Decrease 12.56
2013 1,383,887 Increase 14.9 1,413 Decrease 12.3 17,196 Increase 8.0
2014 1,440,935 Increase 4.1 1,460 Increase 3.3 22,508 Increase 30.9
2015 1,454,360 Increase 0.9 1,304 Decrease 10.7 21,172 Increase 5.9
2016 1,469,341 Increase 1.0 1,048 Decrease 19.6 24,806 Increase 14.6
2017 1,497,412 Increase 1.9 1,285 Increase 22.6 18,598 Decrease 25.0
2018 1,579,528 Increase 5.5 1,443 Increase 12.2 20,869 Increase 12.2
2019 1,750,876 Increase 10.9 1,259 Decrease 12.8 16,748 Decrease 19.7
2020 569,625 Decrease 67.5 1,406 Increase 11.7 7,122 Decrease 54.5
Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad[15]

Statistics[]

Busiest domestic flight out of Sibu Airport by frequency as of April 2019
Rank Destinations Frequency
(Weekly)		 Airlines
1 Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur 53 AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines
2 Sarawak Kuching, Sarawak 35 AirAsia
3 Sarawak Miri, Sarawak 28 MASwings
4 Sarawak Bintulu, Sarawak 14 MASwings
4 Sabah Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 14 AirAsia
6 Johor Johor Bahru, Johor 10 AirAsia
7 Sarawak Mukah, Sarawak 3 MASwings
Traffic movements between Sibu Airport
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
Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad[16]
Sector traffic movements between Sibu Airport
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
Source: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad[16]

Incidents and Accidents[]

  • On 29 September 2014, a Singaporean training aircraft Beechcraft King Air C90B skidded off the runway during touchdown.[17] 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.[18] The incident resulted in Sibu Airport closure until 10 April, and left 1,413 passengers were affected cancellations and delays of flights.[19]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Sibu Airport, Sarawak at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
  2. ^ a b c WBGS – SIBU at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia
  3. ^ New Sibu airport terminal commences operation
  4. ^ "Tender Briefing for Package Deal (Sarawak)" (PDF). MAHB. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  5. ^ Ah Chon, Ho. Kuching in Pictures (1950–1959) (PDF). Kuching: Sarawak state library (Pustaka Negeri Sarawak). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  6. ^ ASN Accident Report
  7. ^ ASN Accident Report
  8. ^ Sibu Airport: History at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ No brakes on sibu airport expansion, says Minister
  10. ^ Moh, Jane (20 December 2011). "Sibu Airport new check-in counters in service". Borneo Post. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  11. ^ Moh, Jane (September 2012). "Najib: Upgraded Sibu airport a promise fulfilled". Borneo Post. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  12. ^ https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/04/475744/airasia-adds-437-extra-flights-hari-raya[bare URL]
  13. ^ Liu, Jim. "AirAsia 4Q20 Malaysia domestic network additions". Routesonline. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Regional Service (RB Link)". Royal Brunei Airlines. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Malaysia Airports: Airports Statistics 2018" (PDF). malaysiaairports. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Malaysia Airports Yearly Statistic".
  17. ^ Banji, Connie (30 September 2014). "Singapore training aircraft skids at Sibu Airport". Borneo Post. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  18. ^ Hradecky, Simon. "Accident: Malaysia B738 at Sibu on Apr 8th 2017, runway excursion, nose gear collapse". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  19. ^ Boon, Peter. "Cancellations, delays affect 1,413 passengers after MH2718 incident". Borneo Post. Retrieved 31 October 2017.

External links[]

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