Malaysia’s Kota Bharu Airport Expansion Opens as AirAsia Launches First KBR–Jakarta Flights

By Aime L. | March 15, 2026

KOTA BHARU, MALAYSIA — Travelers to Malaysia’s east coast islands have a major reason to celebrate this week. Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that the newly expanded terminal at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (KBR) will be fully operational from March 16, 2026.

The RM440 million redevelopment project has transformed the airport into a modern gateway, tripling the terminal’s size from 12,000 to 36,000 square metres and increasing its capacity to 4 million passengers annually.

State-of-the-Art Facilities for 2026

The upgraded airport includes:

Enhanced Passenger Flow: Departure hall on the upper level with aerobridges; arrivals on the lower level.
Expanded Aircraft Capacity: Eleven parking bays (up from five) to accommodate more flights.
Better Parking: Multi-storey parking complex with 1,300 bays (up from 350).
Tech Upgrades: Cashless operating system across the terminal, plus 20+ airline counters and dedicated taxi lanes.
Safety & Services: New terminal fire and rescue station for enhanced safety.

The timing is perfect for the Perhentian Islands’ peak season, offering smoother travel for tourists heading to Kelantan’s popular east coast destinations. The airport is about one hour by road from Kuala Besut Jetty, the main departure point for Perhentian-bound boats.

First Direct International Route

Adding to its growing profile, AirAsia Malaysia will launch direct flights between Kota Bharu (KBR) and Jakarta (CGK) starting June 16, 2026, with four weekly flights. This marks the first-ever international link between Kota Bharu and Indonesia, supporting Kelantan’s aspirations as a hub for tourism and medical travel.

Promotional fares are available starting from RM199 one-way to Jakarta, and IDR709,000 one-way to Kota Bharu, for travel between June 2026 and March 2027.

Major carriers such as AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines continue to provide multiple daily domestic flights to and from Kuala Lumpur (KUL/SZB), making KBR a key gateway for both domestic and international travelers.