For the first time in history, the Sandakan Airport has achieved a million passengers this year.  According to Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB), the airport registered an almost 15 per cent passenger in 2019 and accomplished the target set.

A ceremony to mark the historic achievement was held at the airport on Sunday, attended by Sandakan Member of Parliament Vivian Wong, MAHB General Manager (Airline Marketing) Mohamed Sallauddin Mohamed Shah, Sandakan Airport Manager Suhaimi Abdul Sani and representatives from the Sandakan Municipal Council and the Sandakan Tourism Association.

Commenting on the MAHB achievement, Vivian hoped it would mark the beginning of more positive growth for the airport in the years to come.

“The key will be to achieve further growth that can put Sandakan on the world map. I would like to urge MAHB to continue your relentless efforts in pushing Sandakan forward to a further and wider audience. 

“We are delighted to have Malindo Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines starting operations here this year and hope to see other airlines taking similar steps next year,” she said. 

She said Sandakan Airport would be further upgraded when its airport runway extension project, for which work has commenced last month, is completed. 

So, by the second half of 2021, the Sandakan Airport will have an extended runway of 2500 metres long, she added. 

“Therefore, I would like to urge MAHB and all relevant stakeholders in the tourism industry to work even closer together now to promote Sandakan more aggressively in order to get more people and more flights.

“I would also like to strongly encourage all airlines partners like AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Maswings, Malindo Airlines and Royal Brunei to consider expanding networks to and from Sandakan.

She added “I’m glad that we will be having a series of Sandakan-Taipei chartered flights starting January next year. It will surely be a good start to Sandakan for Visit Malaysia 2020. As I always say, my Parliament office always welcomes you to share and work something out together,”.