Sarawak moves ahead with plans for a future-ready new Kuching airport

KUCHING, Jan 27: Sarawak is advancing plans for a proposed new Kuching International Airport (KIA) as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen its aviation sector over the next 30 to 50 years.

In his keynote address at the Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference and Exhibition (APACE) 2026, Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the ongoing feasibility study for the KIA aims to prepare Sarawak’s aviation infrastructure not only for growing passenger numbers, but also for future aircraft technologies, as well as strong sustainability and resilience standards.

“It is not all about building a bigger airport.

“We need to think about how much capacity Sarawak will require in the decades ahead, how we design for future aircraft technologies, and how sustainability and resilience can be built in from the start,” he said.

He highlighted that aviation is vital for Sarawak, as its large and dispersed population depends on air travel for access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.

Rather than simply expanding the existing airport, he added that the new facility is envisioned as the centrepiece of an integrated aerotropolis, supporting sectors such as aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), aerospace manufacturing, logistics, training, and certification services.

Lee also emphasised that airport planning must anticipate future digital and sustainability trends instead of reacting to limitations after they arise.

He noted that Sarawak’s strengths—including its network of short take-off and landing (STOL) airstrips and the development of AirBorneo following the acquisition of MASwings—are boosting regional and rural connectivity.

Sarawak’s strategic location within the Brunei–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region reinforces aviation’s role in regional integration, underscoring that early planning and collaboration are key to long-term success. – TVS