RM45mil upgrade of KKIA to be completed this year, says MAHB

KOTA KINABALU: Upgrading works on Sabah’s Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), costing some RM45mil, will be completed this year.

This was the assurance given to state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).

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MAHB acting group chief executive officer (CEO) Mohamed Rastam Shahrom presented the action plan for upgrading and developing KKIA’s Terminal 1 during a courtesy call to the minister on Tuesday (Feb 6).

“We started in December and will deliver the packages in phases to be completed within this year,” he told Liew.

“We have completed Phase One of passenger seat refurbishment and added 250 trolleys at the end of last year.

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“Over the next nine months, we will complete the refurbishment of 52 existing toilets (26 male and 26 female), and the surau as well, apart from tinted insulation to reduce heat,” he said.

Several airport infrastructure enhancements were also in progress, he added.

Liew thanked MAHB for taking up the upgrading and development plan to address the issues faced by KKIA.

“MAHB is committing an investment of RM45mil to deliver (these) initiatives, with a clear mandate to complete them before the end of 2024.

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“Collectively, initiatives to optimise the airport’s operating efficiency levels are expected to immediately increase KKIA’s capacity by one million passengers per annum (mppa), from its current nine mppa to 10 mppa,” Liew said.

Mohamed Rastam also briefed Liew on the future development of KKIA up to 2026.

“MAHB will be proposing a development plan to increase the airport’s capacity from 10 mmpa to 12 mmpa by 2026 or 2027,” he said.

He added that this proposal was integral to MAHB’s ultimate goal of scaling the airport’s capacity to 21 mmpa by 2044.