The long-awaited expansion and upgrading of Miri Airport is moving forward with RM445 million allocated for the project which is now targeted to begin in April 2027 and be completed by 2030.
The latest timeline was revealed following a meeting between Miri MP and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Chiew Choon Man and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) on August 10, 2026.
The project, approved under Rolling Plan 1 of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), is expected to transform Miri Airport into a larger and more modern international gateway for northern Sarawak.
Miri Airport’s New Facilities
The RM445 million will be used to double airport’s passenger-handling capacity from two million to four million passengers annually, while the upgraded terminal will feature two-level passenger operations, additional aerobridges, digital passenger-processing systems and dedicated facilities for international, interstate and domestic flights.
Earlier plans included increasing aerobridges from three to nine, expanding terminal space, introducing smart e-hailing facilities and potentially providing up to 2,000 parking bays.
The upgraded airport is expected to feature a two-level terminal arrangement, broadly similar to the passenger-flow concept at Kuching International Airport.
Arrivals and departures will be separated, with designated areas intended to improve passenger movement and reduce congestion.
The latest plans also include dedicated facilities for international, interstate and domestic Sarawak flights, as well as facilities specifically supporting Rural Air Services.
The terminal floor area is also expected to increase substantially with earlier plans proposed expanding the terminal from about 16,900 square metres to 29,000 square metres.
The latest project information states that the existing 22,676-square-metre terminal will receive an additional 5,046 square metres.
The expansion is also expected to strengthen Miri’s ability to handle international flights and support the city’s role as the main tourism and aviation gateway to northern Sarawak.
Several interim improvements have already been completed, including the replacement of three aerobridges and three escalators, while public toilet upgrading works were also undertaken.
Previously, the project was initially allocated RM150 million, but detailed assessments found the amount insufficient. The Federal Government subsequently approved a revised RM445 million ceiling.
Early site preparation works have already been completed, including soil investigations, building surveys and a Value Assessment exercise. Tender pre-qualification has also been carried out, with the Letter of Award scheduled for April 2027.
Construction is expected to take about 24 months, putting completion around 2030.
About Miri Airport
Miri Airport recorded about 2.4 million passengers in 2019, exceeding its original design capacity of 2 million.
It is the second largest airport in Sarawak after Kuching International Airport, and serves international routes to Singapore despite not considered an international airport by name.
Article sources: Ministry of Transport Sarawak, UKAS, The Borneo Post, DUN Sarawak, Sarawak Tribune, DayakDaily
