MIRI – A major transformation is planned for Miri Airport, with a comprehensive upgrade project set to elevate it to international status and double its annual passenger capacity to four million.
The project, which is slated to commence in 2026 pending approvals, will involve a significant expansion of the terminal building from 16,900 square metres to 29,000 square metres.
Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin confirmed that a consultant appointed in April is finalising the design and scope of work, with construction expected to take approximately 36 months.
This development addresses an urgent need, as the airport has consistently operated beyond its original two-million-passenger capacity, handling 2.4 million travellers in 2019.
Passenger traffic for the first eight months of this year has already reached 1.5 million, with forecasts indicating it will surpass two million by the end of 2025.
Key improvements will see the separation of arrival and departure operations onto different levels to ease congestion, with arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first floor.
The number of passenger aerobridges will be increased from three to nine, and the departure hall will be substantially enlarged.
Landside access will also be enhanced with a new multi-storey car park providing up to 2,000 parking bays and a dedicated, digitally-managed zone for e-hailing services.
The upgrade will include dedicated facilities for Rural Air Service passengers and an international departure lounge to accommodate future overseas flights.