By MOHD ZAFRIN NORDIN

TAWAU: The more-than-RM200 million Tawau Airport is ready for its first flight Dec 1 after its first test-run flight early next month.

Facilities in the most-modern East Malaysian airport built are 100 per cent in place, said Tawau Public Works Department engineer Amrullah Kamal yesterday.

"Actually everything had been completed on May 31 including the aprons that can take seven planes at any one time including two Boeing 737-400, or a Boeing 727-400 and an Airbus, three Fokker 50 and two light aircraft," he said.

The airport built at a cost of RM 228,340,000 has two aerobridges to accommodate Airbus and Boeing 737-400, he told visiting Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal.

Amrullah also said the runway is 2.6km and 60 metres wide whereas the old airport has a runway that is only 1.707km.

The airport has room for expansion once future need arises, he said adding the future annual projection passenger-load is about 1.2 million and the figure can rise to 2.2 million in 2015.

At present, the airport which has floodlight and nightlight system, can easily handle the annual 580,000 passengers.

On the road project to the airport, which is 32km from here, Amrullah said it would be ready by August next year.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) manager for Tawau, Awang Mali Awang Anak said the airport once operational will be open until 7pm although it has the capacity to operate around the clock.

He also said present stringent check on passengers would be practised in the airport.