Tawau Airport

Under the following ORDER, All Malaysians are barred from leaving the country, while those returning from overseas are to conduct a period of self-quarantine for 14 days. Tourists and foreign visitors are also barred from entering the country.

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Malaysia imposed a Movement Control Order from March 18-31, 2020 to curb the Covid-19 outbreak.

18 - 31 March, 2020 For 14 Days

Prohibition of movement and mass assembly nationwide would include all religious, sports, social and cultural activities.

All religious activities in mosques and surau are suspended, including Friday prayers

Except for infrastructure services and supermarkets, wet market, grocery stores and multi-functional stores selling daily necessities, all other industries and places must be closed.

All nurseries, government and private schools, including boarding schools, international schools, tahfiz centres as well as primary, secondary and pre-university education institutions; as well as public, private universities and vocational training centres are closed.

Empty car park on the first day of lockdown in Tawau airport.

2020-03-18 WED 09:00

This side of airport is reserved parking space for Passenger Vans parking of tour companies. Normally for the whole day, a line of Vans will drop in and off non stop. But on 2020 March 18, the first day of Lockdown, NOT a single van appeared.

Tawau Airport

Tawau Airport is the second airport in Sabah to have immigration facilities after Kota Kinabalu. Therefore this airport can accept international flights.

Since Tawau has an international airport in year 2000, this sleepy town is sleepy no more...
Tawau is a remote town in Malaysia located at the northern tip of Sabah. The gateway to the world class diving paradise Sipadan Island and many nearby island resorts.
From this town you will gain access to a few oldest forest in the world, i.e. Danum Valley, Tabin Wildlife, Maliau Basin, Tawau Hill Park.
Tawau district comprise of Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Semprona town.
Tawau district is the world's third largest producer of cocoa beans after Ivory Coast and Ghana.
The fishing industry remains important, with tiger prawn farming contributing to the export trade with Japan and Taiwan.
Tawau is the third largest town in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.
In Tawau try to enjoy the tranquility and the splendid and cheap sea food. Tawau town is also a right place with more options to shop and replenish your foods and necessity, as compare to other smaller towns within Tawau district.

Upon Arriving
Just take an airport taxi(RM40.00) from the airport.
You can rent a car at the airport, and depart from there.

Getting to Semporna from Tawau Airport
Most travelers take a flight to Tawau, then travel overland by taxi or book a Grab with your smartphone.

By Taxi from Tawau airport to Semporna cost around RM 100
By Grab from Tawau airport to Semporna cost around

Transport services
Pickup vans at the air port provided by some of the local travel agents for their resorts guests :
POM POM ISLAND RESORT & TOURS
SIPADAN WATER VILLAGE RESORT MABUL ISLAND
THE REEF DIVE RESORT MATAKING ISLAND
SIPADAN KAPALAI DIVE RESORT
SCUBA JUNKIE
SMART (by Explore Asia Tours Sdn. Bhd.)
Pulau Sipadan Resort (by Pulau Sipadan Resort and Tours Sdn. Bhd. )

Pickup van of Pulau Sipadan Resort (from Pulau Sipadan Resort and Tours Sdn. Bhd. )

There is no direct flight from Tawau to Shenzhen Airport or any airport in China. Traveller has to get connecting flight in Kota Kinabalu Airport to China.
AirAsia flies from Tawau to KL and Johor Bahru,
MAS also flies between KL and Tawau
Tawau is also the stepping stone for boat travel to Kalimantan, with daily departures to Pulau Nunukan (1hr 30miniuts RM25). Note that from Nunukan boats go further round the coast to Tarakan (3hour RM75).
Long-distance buses to KK, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Semporna leave from the Sabindu Bus Station beside the Mosque.

Buses
Air-conditioned buses run from Tawau Long-distance Bus Terminal to KK, Sandakan and major towns.

Taking a TAXI from Airport to Tawau Town
Passengers can buy the taxi coupon from the taxi counter.
Taxi to town will cost about RM40 per taxi to the town centre. To places further such as SMK Kuhara and SMK St. Patrick, the fare is Rm50.00

Charge rate for left-luggage
Small : Rm 5.00 per bag
Medium : Rm 10.00 per bag
Big : Rm 15.00 per bag
Managed by Rizham Enterprise

CAR PARK at the air port
(IMCERA Management Services & Contractor)
The open air car park has 500 parking lots
RM 1.00 per vehicle / RM 10.00 per vehicle for over-night parking

Four Airlines that fly to Tawau

1- AirAsia
2- Malaysia Airlines
3- Malindo Airways
4- Royal Brunei Airlines

From Kota Kinabalu to Tawau : Air Asia and Malaysian Airlines have daily flights from KK to Tawau. Air Asia is cheapest options for flying if booked early. Serveral buses leave every day from KK directly to Tawau. Bus rides take about 8 hours and flights are about 45 minutes.

From Kuala Lumpur to Tawau : AirAsia has direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau.