Limbang Airport

Limbang Airport Lapangan Terbang Limbang 林梦机场
IATA: LMN – ICAO: WBGJ LMN Location of airport in Borneo
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		Government of Malaysia
Operator		Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
Serves		Limbang, Sarawak, East Malaysia
Elevation AMSL		14 ft / 4 m
Coordinates		04°48′29″N 115°00′37″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
04/22	1,500	4,922	Asphalt
Statistics (2010)
Passengers			50,044
Aircraft movements			2,171
Cargo in tonnes			559
Sources: official web site and DAFIF

Limbang Airport (IATA: LMN, ICAO: WBGJ) is an airport serving the town of Limbang, in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia. The airport is 6 kilometres from the town centre. The airport opened on the 15 July, 2004, and is capable of handling 250,000 passengers per year. It is able to handle large turboprop aircraft such as the Fokker F50 and the ATR 72-500. In 2008, the airport handled 49,181 passengers, 2,112 aircraft movements and 474,513 kg (475 tonnes) of cargo.

History

The old Limbang STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) airfield was built in 1963 by The British Army for use during the confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia. Situated beside Mas Hill (Bukit Mas), about 3 miles from the town of Limbang. The old airfield did not meet the safety requirements of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). Furthermore, the old airfield was surrounded by mountains and the Approach Path was covered by tall vegetation such as trees, combined with the relatively high ground. This makes it particularly hazardous and difficult for civilian aircraft to operate safely into and out of the airfield.

In 1978, a consultant firm was appointed to select a new site for a completely new airport and thus proceeded with the Master Plan Study regarding the layout of the new airport. The development plan of the new airport back then is to accommodate the Fokker F27 turboprop aircraft operation in the beginning and thereafter Boeing 737-200 jet aircraft operation.

After lengthy delays, the new Limbang Airport project started in the year 2000 and was completed in only four years. The airport was officially opened on the 7th of April, 2004, and full operational use followed on the 15th of April, 2004. The new Runway is 1500 meters (4,922 feet) long and is well suited to accommodate de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, Fokker 50 and ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. The new airport is located about 6 kilometres North-West of the town of Limbang.

Currently, Malaysia Airlines' subsidiary MASWings operates into and out of the airport. Other operators include Medevac and Logging helicopters, and private turboprop powered aircraft. Previous users of the airport were Malaysia Airlines and former Air Asia subsidiary FAX (Fly Asian Express).

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
MASwings	Miri, Sibu

Traffic and Statistics

Overall Operational Statistics

Years	Passenger Movements	Aircraft Movements	Cargo Movements in Metric Tonnes	Cargo Movements in Kilograms
2003	83,459	5,046	226
2004	96,209	5,691	179
2005	105,652	5,568	289
2006	89,814	4,366	379	378,876
2007	50,107	2,552	440	439,828
2008	49,181	2,112	475	474,513
2009	45,512	1,949	530	530
2010	50,044	2,171	559	559

External links

• Limbang Airport at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
• Accident history for LMN at Aviation Safety Network