🇲🇾 Malacca International Airport

Malacca International Airport (IATA: MKZ, ICAO: WMKM), formerly known as Batu Berendam Airport, is a public airport located in Batu Berendam, Malacca, Malaysia. It serves the state of Malacca and northern Johor.

Notable Features and History:

• The airport occupies 141 acres (0.57 km2) and was completed in August 1952.
• Its control tower holds historical significance as it guided the plane of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, when he landed from London on February 20, 1956, to announce Malaya's independence.
• A new 7,000 m2 (75,000 sq ft) terminal, capable of handling 1.5 million passengers annually, was officially opened in May 2009 and officiated in February 2010.
• The runway was upgraded to 2,135 m × 45 m (7,005 ft × 148 ft), allowing Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft operations.
• The Malaysian Flying Academy (MFA) has been based at the airport since 1987.
• In 2016, APR-Aerospace Engineering built a hangar at the airport for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

Current Status: As of September 2023, all commercial operations at Malacca International Airport had ceased due to a lack of demand and high operational costs,. The state government has offered incentives to attract airlines, but as of 2024, there are no scheduled flights. However, in October 2024, the airport reopened with Scoot operating almost daily flights from Singapore.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, aip.caam.gov.my, flightera.net, centreforaviation.com*