New Mukah Airport Opens, Replacing Previous Mukah Stolport
17th June 2021 update, MUKAH – The new Mukah Airport (MKM) has opened today, following a successful Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) trial last month. The RM300 million airport will replace all the functions of the previous Mukah Short Take-off and Landing Air Strip (STOLport). The new terminal will be able to accommodate up to 200 passengers at any one time as compared to the STOLport that could only handle 67 passengers. At 3,120sqm, the terminal can cater up to 264,000 passengers per annum. As for the new runway, it is 1.5km in length which is suitable for turboprop and helicopter operations. It can also be potentially extended for larger jet airliners, such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 in the future. MKM is expecting its first flight to arrive from Miri and another departing flight to Kuching today.
According to the group chief executive officer of Malaysia Airports, Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, “With the opening of MKM, it will help to further boost the connectivity of the coastal town and its surrounding areas in Sarawak. This is both timely and crucial especially during this challenging pandemic period for the delivery of essential supplies like medicine, food, basic supplies to the remote areas of the country. As part of brand promise and service delivery, we aspire to connect the rural communities throughout the country. Currently, in Sarawak alone, Malaysia Airports operates eight other STOLports which are key socio-economic contributors. With an upgraded status as a domestic airport, MKM can now serve more people and strengthen the town’s prospects in contributing to the local economic development.”
Situated 7km from Mukah town, MKM is built upon 285 acres of land area, with a new terminal building, runway, Air Traffic Control Tower, offices, VIP Building, fire station and passenger waiting facilities. Other airport stakeholders’ offices are housed here as well, namely the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and Meteorological Department (MET). This new airport is also equipped with 100 parking bays, 20 taxi parking bays, 20 motorcycle parking bays and 2 bus parking bays for the convenience of the public.
For the official news article source and further information please visit:
http://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/media-centre/news/new-mukah-airport-opens-replacing-previous-mukah-stolport