MUKAH:  It was business as usual at the old airport here on Wednesday pending the official commencement of the completed new Mukah airport.

The existing airport is located about three kilometres from Mukah town.

Today, the old airport was quiet except for the occasional sound of a Twin Otter taking off or landing on the runway.

The unusually quiet atmosphere was partly due the enforcement of strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, only passengers were allowed to enter the airport building.

It was previously reported that the new RM435.9 million Mukah airport at KM7 Jalan Mukah-Oya here was expected to be operational in the second quarter of this year.

The handover of the airport from the Public Works Department to Malaysia Airport Holding Berhad (MAHB) was held on April 26 at the airport terminal.

The new Mukah airport project commenced in Aug 2017 and was fully completed in April 2021.

The new airport has a 1,500 metre-long and 30-metre-wide runway while the terminal building has an area of 3,500 square metres.

The new airport terminal is capable of handling 204 passengers during peak hours compared to 40 passengers at the old airport which accommodates small aircraft such as Twin Otters only.