Sandakan Airport, Malaysia Lapangan Terbang Sandakan
IATA:SDK ICAO:WBKS
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Khazanah Nasional Berhad
Operator	Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
Serves	Sandakan Division,Sabah,East Malaysia
Location	Sandakan,Sabah,East Malaysia
Time zone	MST (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL	46 ft / 14 m
Coordinates	05°54′06″N118°02′55″E / 5.90167°N 118.04861°E /5.90167; 118.04861
Map
SDK/WBKS Location inSabah state Show map of Sabah SDK/WBKS Location inEast Malaysia Show map of East Malaysia SDK/WBKS Location in Borneo Show map of Borneo SDK/WBKS Location in Malaysia Show map of Malaysia SDK/WBKS Location in Southeast Asia Show map of Southeast Asia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 08/26 2,500 8,202 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Passenger 362,692 ( 66.5%) Airfreight (tonnes) 1,657 ( 34.9%) Aircraft movements 6,034 ( 50.5%)
Sources: Official web site[1] AIP Malaysia[2]

Sandakan Airport (IATA:SDK,ICAO:WBKS) is a domestic airport located inSandakan,Sabah,Malaysia, approximately 14 km (8.7 mi)^[2]) west of the town center. It serves as an important gateway for both passenger andcargo traffic, supporting the local economy and regional tourism. In 2022, the airport handled 621,513 passengers and recorded 10,876 flight movements, making it the12th busiest airport in Malaysia.

The airport was originally built by theJapanese during World War II and was later repurposed for civilian use to aid in the post-war reconstruction of the region. It began commercial operations in the 1950s and over the years, Sandakan Airport has been upgraded to accommodate growing demand. Significant infrastructure improvements have includedterminal expansions,runway extensions, and the introduction of modern navigational systems.

In recent years, the airport has seen major developments, including a terminal expansion completed in 2014, which increased the terminal area to 12,500 square meters, with a capacity to handle 750 passengers per hour. In 2022, a runway extension project was completed, lengthening the runway to 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) and enhancing the airport's ability to handle larger aircraft such as theAirbus A330.

The site of Sandakan Airport was first identified by theBritish Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II as a potential location for amilitary airfield. However, the project was still in its early stages whenJapanese forces invaded Borneo in early 1942. Recognizing the strategic value of the location, the Japanese military completed the airfield as a refueling stop for aircraft traveling betweenMalaya and thePhilippines.^[3]

The airfield was constructed under extreme conditions usingforced labor. Approximately 1,500 British and Australianprisoners of war (POWs) were transported fromSingapore to Sandakan and, along with local andJavanese laborers, built a 1,400-meter (4,593 feet) runway on challengingtufa soil. Construction was marked by severe abuse, malnutrition and disease among the workers.^[3]

The airfield became operational in December 1942, with the landing of Japanese General Yamawaki Masataka.^[4][5] However, as the tide of the war turned against Japan, the airfield’s strategic importance diminished. By 1945, it was abandoned by Japanese forces, and the remaining POWs were evacuated, many of whom perished during the infamousSandakan Death Marches.^[6][7]

Following World War II, the airfield, originally constructed by the Japanese, was repurposed forcivilian use to aid in the post-war reconstruction of Sandakan and the widerNorth Borneo region, later known as Sabah. In the 1950s, Sandakan Airport began establishing itself as a key hub for commercial aviation.

Malayan Airways commenced regular flights to Sandakan, connecting the town withSingapore with stopovers inKuching,Sibu,Labuan andJesselton. The airline initially operatedDouglas DC-3 aircraft, and the airport became the terminus for eastbound flights acrossBritish Borneo, integrating Sandakan into the regional air transport network.^[8]

In 1953,Sabah Airways (later known asBorneo Airways) established Sandakan Airport as its base, boosting the airport's regional prominence. The airline operated a route connectingTawau,Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Jesselton and Labuan until its operations were eventually centralized at Labuan Airport.^[9]

International flights at Sandakan Airport also began withCathay Pacific operating services betweenHong Kong,Manila, Jesselton and Labuan. Similar to Malayan Airways, both Borneo Airways and Cathay Pacific utilized Douglas DC-3 aircraft for these mainline routes.^[10][11]

The expansion ofnatural resource industries in Sabah during the 1960s through the 1980s contributed to Sandakan’s growing role as the state'ssecond-largest town. The airport became an essential link for trade and commerce. During this period, the airport saw the introduction of largerturboprop aircraft, such as theFokker 27, and by the 1980s,Boeing 737 jetliners began operating at the airport. Significant infrastructure upgrades, including runway extensions and terminal improvements, supported the increased capacity needed to handle rising passenger and cargo traffic, further strengthening the airport’s connectivity and role in regional economic development.^[12]

In the 1980s and 1990s, Sandakan Airport underwent further modernization to support its growing capacity. Upgrades tonavigational systems, cargo facilities and passenger amenities were implemented to enhance the efficiency of airport operations. These improvements aligned with the growth of the region'seco-tourism sector and contributed to the airport's ability to manage both domestic andinternational flights more effectively.^[13]

By the early 2000s, Sandakan Airport achieved record growth, handling 621,513 passengers and nearly 11,000 aircraft movements in 2005. The introduction of international routes toZamboanga, Philippines, by carriers such asSouth Phoenix Airways,^[14]Southeast Asian Airlines, Malaysia Airlines andAsian Spirit further boosted its role in regional connectivity.^[15]

In May 2013, Sandakan Airport commenced a major terminal expansion project aimed at increasing capacity. The terminal was expanded to 12,500 square meters, with a handling capacity of 750 passengers per hour (PPH). The expansion was completed ahead of schedule in October 2014, enhancing both the passenger experience and operational capacity.^[16]

In 2017, an RM 80 million runway extension project was announced to meet the growing operational demands of the airport. The project, completed in June 2022, extended the runway to 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) and introduced Taxiway Bravo. Runway 08 was upgraded with anInstrument Landing System (ILS), while Runway 26 was equipped withVOR andRNAV approach capabilities, improving the airport’s navigational infrastructure.^[17]

The extended runway now allows unrestricted takeoff fornarrow-body aircraft such as theBoeing 737-800 andAirbus A320/A321, and limited operations forwide-body aircraft like theAirbus A330. These upgrades have significantly increased the airport’s capacity to handle larger aircraft and higher passenger and cargo volumes.^[17]

In 2017,Cebgo, a subsidiary ofCebu Pacific, announced plans to launch flights fromZamboanga to Sandakan, though the service never materialised.^[18] The airport’s international reach expanded in 2019 whenRB Link,Royal Brunei Airlines regional subsidiary, began operating flights toBandar Seri Begawan. By 2023,Philippines AirAsia expressed interest in developing a Philippines-Sandakan route, potentially fromManila or other airports such asDavao,Puerto Princesa orZamboanga.^[19]

As of 2023, the terminal is capable of handling up to 1.4 million passengers annually, with peak hour capacity reaching 1,000 passengers. The terminal includes several retail outlets andfood and beverage services.^[20][21][22]

The airport features fiveaircraft parking bays, including two equipped withJetway andVisual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) services. In addition, the airport has twoturboprop bays, and Remote Bay 5A, located farther from the terminal, can be adapted for occasional wide-body aircraft operations.^[23] These enhancements have strengthened Sandakan Airport’s capacity to accommodate increased passenger and cargo traffic, supporting regional tourism and economic activities.

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics

Year	Passengers handled	Passenger % Change	Cargo (tonnes)	Cargo % Change	Aircraft Movements	Aircraft % Change
2003	497,999		3,713		10,588
2004	574,213	15.3	4,053	9.2	10,823	2.2
2005	621,513	8.2	4,531	11.8	11,662	7.7
2006	633,194	1.9	5,475	20.8	10,776	7.6
2007	626,192	1.1	6,224	13.7	8,410	22.0
2008	618,927	1.2	3,055	50.9	9,622	14.4
2009	672,469	8.6	2,099	31.3	12,915	34.2
2010	741,674	10.3	2,806	33.7	13,517	4.7
2011	788,515	6.3	2,300	18.0	11,715	13.3
2012	834,626	5.8	2,479	7.8	13,153	12.3
2013	911,855	9.3	2,894	16.7	12,856	2.3
2014	900,016	1.3	2,497	13.7	12,696	1.2
2015	853,411	5.2	3,147	26.0	12,705	0.1
2016	882,811	3.4	2,389	24.1	12,240	3.7
2017	896,347	1.5	2,211	7.4	10,859	11.3
2018	950,861	6.1	2,152	2.7	11,561	6.5
2019	1,083,686	14.0	2,547	18.3	12,179	5.3
2020	362,692	66.5	1,657	34.9	6,034	50.5
Source:Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad[26]

• Silver, Lynette Ramsay:Sandakan: A Conspiracy of Silence; Opus Publications, Malaysia.ISBN 978-983-3987-04-7

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSandakan Airport.

• Sandakan Airport, SabahArchived 2009-09-25 at theWayback Machine atMalaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
• Sandakan Airport Real Time Flight Schedule
• Current weather for WBKS atNOAA/NWS
• Accident history for SDK atAviation Safety Network

• Buildings and structures in Sandakan
• Airports in Sabah
• Military airbases established in 1942
• Military airbases closed in 1945

• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Webarchive template wayback links
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Coordinates on Wikidata
• Commons category link is on Wikidata