CAPACITY at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is near “critical” despite undergoing a RM1.4 billion reconstruction that was completed in 2014.

The Sabah government is considering expanding the airport and building an additional runway to handle the increased in arrivals.

It is also re-looking into plans to build a new airport in Kimanis, near Papar district.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun said the airport will reached its full nine million arrivals limit very soon.

“Arrivals hit 7.9 million last year. This is critical. I prefer to make decisions before things becoming serious.

“We need a plan to ensure Sabah’s tourism industry can grow without a hitch,” he said.

KKIA, the second busiest airport in the country, was reopened by Prime Minister Najib Razak on Malaysia Day (September 16) in 2015 amid resistance from budget carrier AirAsia to move into the new airport.

AirAsia eventually moved to the new building on orders from the state government, but warned Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd to speed up expansion works due to surge in the number of arrivals.

Sabah is enjoying a boom in tourism especially from the China due to its scenic beaches and tropical climate.

But suggestions to build a new airport is not new.

On expanding the runway, Masidi said there are environmental concerns to be dealt with as it involve reclamation of sea near the Tanjung Aru beachside township.

While reclamation works are being considered, Masidi said plans to build a new airport in Kimanis could hit a dead end.

“Relocating the airport to KKIA Is an old plan and over the years the initial lands proposed as the new site for the airport have been occupied, including residential areas,” he said.

Another move Masidi said was to push Sabah visitors to the east coast to control the sudden surge of arrivals to KKIA, adding the plan depends on the commercial operators as well as airlines to determine if it would be profitable.

However, the number of hotels are limited in the east coast, while, several countries have issued travel advisories to avoid the area due to the presence of armed gunmen and militants from southern Philippines. – February 15, 2018.