Miri Airport

Miri Airport sits 10 kilometres south of central Miri, the second-largest city in Sarawak on the island of Borneo. The airport handles both domestic and limited international traffic, serving as the primary air gateway to the northern region of Sarawak, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gunung Mulu National Park. Built in the 1960s and upgraded several times since, the terminal processes around two million passengers annually. For travellers heading to Miri’s offshore oil and gas operations or the surrounding national parks, this compact airport is the most efficient entry point.

Getting There

Miri Airport is connected to the city centre by a single main road, Jalan Airport. The drive takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Taxis are available from a rank just outside the arrivals hall; the fare to central Miri is fixed at around RM30 (as of 2025). Ride-hailing services such as Grab also operate from the airport – follow the signs to the pickup point near the car park. For those driving, the airport offers a paid parking lot with both short-term and long-term spaces. Rates are modest: the first hour costs RM2, and a full day is around RM15. Parking is uncovered, so expect rain in the wet season. Bus services are limited; the Sarawak Metro bus line (route 1A) runs from the city centre to the airport roughly every hour during daylight hours, but schedules can be unreliable. Most visitors and locals prefer taxis or private cars.

Inside the Terminal

Miri Airport operates from a single two-storey terminal. Check-in counters and departure gates are on the ground floor; arrivals and baggage claim are on the upper floor. The terminal is compact, so walking distances are short. Security screening is efficient, though queues can build up around the busiest times – Monday through Thursday at 5 pm, when flights to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu often depart. Allow at least 30 minutes for domestic departures.

The airport provides wheelchair-accessible entrances, toilets, and a dedicated accessible car park. A changing table is available in the accessible toilet on the ground floor near the check-in area. Baggage storage is offered by a counter near the check-in hall; rates start at RM10 per bag per day. On-site services include a small convenience store selling snacks, drinks, and travel essentials, plus a café serving Malaysian coffee and light meals such as nasi lemak and curry puffs. The café operates from 6 am until the last flight departs. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal, though speeds can be slow during peak hours. There are no lounges or duty-free shops, as international flights are limited. The atmosphere is functional and straightforward – what you see is what you get.

Miri Airport and Miri

Miri Airport is more than just a transit point; it is the launchpad for exploring Borneo’s most extraordinary natural attractions. The city of Miri itself sits on the coast of the South China Sea, and its economy has long been driven by oil and gas – Malaysia’s first oil well was drilled here in 1910. This industrial heritage gives Miri a workaday feel, but the surrounding region is where the magic happens. Within an hour’s drive are the Niah Caves, a massive limestone cave system where archaeologists have found evidence of human habitation dating back 40,000 years. A two-hour flight north from Miri Airport lands you in Gunung Mulu National Park, home to the world’s largest cave chamber (Sarawak Chamber) and the famous Pinnacles formation. The airport’s runway is long enough to handle Boeing 737s, making it the hub for tourists flying into Mulu.

Closer to the city, Miri has a lively waterfront promenade, a Grand Old Lady (the oil well), and a vibrant Chinatown district. The people here are predominantly Malay, Chinese, and indigenous Orang Ulu, and their cultures blend in the local food scene – laksa, manok pansuh (chicken cooked in bamboo), and fresh seafood are staples. For travellers, Miri serves as a base for exploring the rainforest and the indigenous longhouses of the interior. The Marudi and Bario highlands are accessible via small planes departing from Miri Airport, often using Twin Otter aircraft. The airport thus functions as a lifeline for remote communities and a gateway for adventure travellers.

Practical Information

Miri Airport is open daily, but its operating hours vary with flight schedules. The terminal opens approximately two hours before the first departure (usually around 5 am) and closes after the last arrival (around 10 pm). Confirm your flight’s timing in advance.

• Address: Miri Airport, Jalan Airport, 98000 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
• Phone: +60 85-615 204
• Website: https://www.miriairport.com/

Pro tip: Arrive 60 minutes before domestic flights and 90 minutes before international flights. The terminal’s small food selection may not be enough for a full meal, so consider eating in the city before heading to the airport.