MALAYSIA. The government is considering adopting an open sky policy to turn the duty free island of Labuan into a leading tourist destination, according to local reports.
“We hope in future international aircraft from Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei can fly direct to Labuan,” Transport Minister Datuk Chan Kong Choy told reporters after visiting Labuan Airport. “This shows the seriousness on the part of the federal government to help Labuan develop, particularly in its tourism sector.”
To this end, he said, the government had approved the expansion of Labuan’s runway to cater for larger aircraft. The project was estimated to cost RM200 million and he hoped that it would start as soon as possible.
“If everything goes well, this project is expected to be completed in two years, and once the runway is ready, we hope that larger aircraft such as the airbus and Boeing 777 can come here,” he said.
The terminal building will also be upgraded from a one-and-a-half storey to three-storey building while the aero-bridges would be increased from three to five.
Chan also said that the upgrading of Kuching International Airport was in progress while the refurbishment of Kota Kinabalu International Airport might start next year.
MORE STORIES ON MALAYSIAN AIRPORTS
Malaysian low-cost terminal to be modelled on foreign hubs – 02/03/05
A Sense of Place: Kuala Lumpur International Airport helps passengers ‘Discover Malaysia’ – 23/12/04
Burgeoning passenger traffic demands Kuala Lumpur airport expansion – 30/11/04
Malaysia Airports reports strong growth in non-aeronautical revenues – 29/09/04
