The proposed Kuantan International Airport development in Gebeng is expected to be completed by 2031, according to Pahang state executive councillor Datuk Mohamad Nizar Mohamad Najib.
Mohamad Nizar, who oversees Investment, Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, said the large-scale project involves long-term operations spanning between 50 and 100 years, requiring detailed planning and strict compliance with aviation regulations.
He stressed that the development could not be rushed as it involves passenger safety and international aviation standards, with the airport projected to handle up to two million passengers annually.
“We need to comply with standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and all related agencies because this concerns passenger safety,” he said during the Pahang State Legislative Assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang on Tuesday.
He was responding to a question from Cheka assemblyman Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man regarding the latest status of the airport project.
Mohamad Nizar said the proposed Kuantan International Airport and Aerospace City in Gebeng are among Pahang’s strategic high-impact projects and will be developed through a private financing initiative (PFI).
The integrated development will cover approximately 5,042 hectares of land owned by the Pahang State Secretary Corporation.
Apart from the international airport, the mega development is also planned to include maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, a Magazine Space City, an Advanced Mobility Park, data centres, an artificial intelligence technology park, as well as residential and commercial components to support the aerospace ecosystem.
He said the project is currently in the final stages of technical planning, implementation structuring and strategic investor engagement.
At the same time, he noted that the development remains subject to strict technical compliance requirements set by agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), CAAM and the Ministry of Transport.
Mohamad Nizar added that the state government and developers are continuing engagement sessions with relevant agencies to ensure all technical requirements are fully met before physical construction begins.
He said the state government remains committed to implementing the project in a careful, transparent and well-planned manner to ensure long-term benefits for the people of Pahang.
