However, the ministry had yet to receive an application for an aerodrome operator licence from the project’s developers, a crucial requirement before the airport’s construction could proceed, he said.
“Once the licence application is submitted, the ministry will conduct a traffic study to assess whether the proposed location is suitable, as part of the national airport strategic plan (NASP).
“This project is a private investment, not a ministry initiative. Our role is to facilitate the process.
“The developers must first obtain approval from the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC).
“After that, any company or developer must apply for an aerodrome licence. This is the standard procedure applicable to all parties.
“As of now, I understand the developers are still in the process of applying for the licence. Once this is received, the ministry will proceed with the necessary steps,” he said here today.
Construction of the airport, which was initially slated to begin last year and expected to be operational by 2026, has yet to commence.
Loke acknowledged the Pahang government’s wish to develop the new airport, considering that the current Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport is situated on land owned by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, posing certain limitations.
“The Pahang government has long expressed its wish to establish a dedicated civil aviation airport. The existing airport faces constraints due to its shared runway with the air force.
“In the long term, building a dedicated civil airport would be beneficial and would contribute to Pahang’s development as it would serve as a gateway to the east coast,” he said.
The plan to build the airport was first announced by Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail in October 2021, with the NPPC initially approving it in principle, pending a comprehensive study by the state government.
On July 6, 2022, Wan Rosdy said the RM2 billion airport would be part of an aerospace city development in Gebeng, spanning more than 5,000ha, which was expected to be a catalyst for Pahang’s economic growth.