Lahad Datu Airport

"It is 3:30 in the morning when the alarm rings. Gosh, how early that is! An hour later we are picked up and taken to the airport. At first glance, the flight seems almost like a private flight, but gradually it is still reasonably full.
It is a short flight (MH 3010) from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu and within an hour we are at our destination. On the way we have a good view of Mount Kinabalu, the top of which is above the clouds. When we arrive in Lahad Datu, the pick-up goes very smoothly."

Lahad Datu Airport is an airport in the southeastern part of Sabah. The airport, which is located about 1 km from the center of Lahad Datu. Planes bring travelers to Lahad Datu city and neighboring districts such as Kinabatangan and Kunak. Lahad Datu Airport is thus an important regional airport. The airport can accommodate aircraft as large as the ATR72, Fokker 50 and a number of smaller aircraft. The small terminal building can handle up to 100,000 passengers annually.

Here at the airport in still relies on human strength to push and pull the luggage carts to and from the planes, coming from Sandakan or to and from Kota Kinabalu. Likewise, there is a trolley for umbrellas, which during rainy days is intended for passengers to take every 150 meters or so to their ATR aircraft. This is the largest passenger jet, approved to land at Lahad Datu Airport.
When it comes to claiming their luggage, they are led to a narrow concrete platform with a thin rubber sheet. to wait for the human powered baggage car. Currently only Malaysia Airlines (MASWings) planes arrive from Kota KInabalu and Sandakan.
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For many foreign visitors, the airport is the gateway to the eco-tourism sites in Kinabatangan, Sukau and Danum Valley. For these tourists, the airport has found improved facilities.

While the media is full of stories of great new airport projects, airport expansion or improvement plans, Lahad Datu is unfortunately not on the list. Locals here are clamoring for runway extensions to allow jet planes to get travelers on direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, without changing in Kota Kinabalu. Lahad Datu Airport is small and cute but very important to the locals. The population of Lahad Datu was 220,000 and it is surrounded by cocoa and palm oil plantations.

Address: Lahad Datu Airport, PO Box 60298, 91108 Lahad Datu,, Sabah, Malaysia

Operator: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad

Parking lots: Yes, parking is possible.

Nearby cities: Lahad Datu (1 km), Sandakan (175 km), Semporna (68 km), Tawau (151 km)

Traffic connections: The airport is located just off the A-5, on the northwestern edge of the town.

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