01-11-2010: Boost for Sibu airport

Monday November 1, 2010 

Boost for Sibu airport

By ANDY CHUA
andychua@thestar.com.my

WORK on the Sibu Airport extension project costing RM136.8mil started in the middle of September and is expected to be completed in two years. Project director Dr Shafie Karimin of KLIA Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd, in his briefing, said the project, which was 2% completed as of Oct 24, would be able to accommodate international flights when completed.

Among those present at the briefing were Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, Housing and Urban Development Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and his deputy Daniel Ngieng.

Phase One of the project, he added, involved the upgrading and extending of the terminal building from 8,040m to 15,240m, building of four aerobridges, increasing the check-in counter from eight units to 18, adding another baggage handling unit for inbound passengers, installing an air-conditioning system in the terminal building, constructing of a utility centre building, security control building including engineering office and a workshop, and the installation of an electrical and mechanical system and a computer control system management building.

As for Phase 2, he said the work would cover the extension of aircraft parking bays to accommodate an additional two helicopters, two public aircraft, three small aircraft and two Boeing aircraft. The parking lots for vehicles would be increased from 200 to 500 lots.

This project, when completed, would cater to air traffic for the next 20 to 30 years. The number of passengers recorded at the airport is about 800,000 annually. “By 2016, we estimate that the number will increase to 1.06 million, 1.4 million by 2031 and 1.8 million by 2056, he added last Friday.

During peak hours, he said the airport could handle 900 passengers and one big and two small aircraft at any one time.The airport runway is presently 745m long and 45m wide and the maximum capacity of its parking bays is three units of Boeing 737, Airbus 330 or Airbus 320 and two units of the DHC-6 Twin Otter.

Source / Sumber: The Star Online