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Total 1 airports of WBKW

TWU Tawau Airport
Tawau Airport (IATA: TWU, ICAO:WBKW) is located in the the city of Tawau, Malaysia. It is the primary international airport serving Tawau and its surrounding metropolitan area.

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IATA Code

TWU

ICAO Code

WBKW

Name

Tawau Airport

Type

Main Airport

Country / Region

Malaysia (MY)

City

Tawau

Latitude

4.3201599

Longitude

118.1279984

Time Zone

UTC+08:00

Phone Number

Est. Unit Price

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Tawau Airport (TWU)

Regional air freight gateway in Sabah, Malaysia | ICAO: WBKW

Airport Overview

Tawau Airport is a regional passenger airport serving Tawau and the eastern Sabah market in Malaysia. Its location at approximately 4.3201599° N, 118.1279984° E and its UTC+08:00 operating time zone make it relevant to shipments moving between Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia and selected regional destinations. For international freight forwarders, the airport is best assessed as a regional belly-cargo and airport-to-airport gateway rather than as a dedicated long-haul freighter hub. Our service team can coordinate uplift through available passenger-flight capacity, onward connections and local delivery arrangements, subject to carrier acceptance, flight schedules, aircraft capacity and cargo handling confirmation.

Airport name	Tawau Airport
IATA / ICAO	TWU / WBKW
Location	Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia
Coordinates	4.3201599° N, 118.1279984° E
Time zone	UTC+08:00
Airport profile	Regional passenger airport with air cargo opportunities subject to available belly capacity and handling acceptance

Key Highlights

Sabah regional accessUseful for cargo originating in or destined for Tawau and surrounding eastern Sabah commercial areas.

Connection-led planningShipments may require routing through Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur or another approved gateway, depending on the booked carrier.

Capacity-sensitive upliftPassenger-flight belly capacity, aircraft type, seasonal demand and shipment dimensions can affect acceptance.

Airport-to-door coordinationLocal collection, customs presentation and final delivery should be arranged before cargo is tendered.

Cargo Facilities & Services

General cargo handling: Standard shipments can normally be considered through the appointed ground-handling and cargo channels, subject to current acceptance rules and available capacity.
Screening and security: Cargo must be presented in a condition suitable for security screening. Dense, irregular or poorly packed pieces may require additional handling or repacking.
Customs-controlled movement: Export and import cargo may require customs documentation, declaration and inspection arrangements through the relevant licensed parties.
Temperature-sensitive cargo: Cold-chain acceptance, storage duration and handover points must be confirmed before booking; shippers should not assume permanent refrigerated storage.
Dangerous goods: Acceptance depends on airline approval, the applicable IATA Dangerous Goods requirements, packaging, labels, documents and trained handling personnel.
Local delivery support: Our service team can coordinate trucking, collection, delivery and customs-agent interfaces, with timing dependent on cargo release and local operating conditions.

Cargo terminal names, warehouse areas, bonded-storage arrangements, operating hours and specialist equipment are subject to the appointed handler and current airport procedures; our team confirms these before final booking.

Routes & Transit Times

The supplied airport record identifies regular passenger connectivity involving Tawau, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan through Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia. Current cargo acceptance and operating schedules must be checked at the time of quotation.
For international cargo, a practical routing may involve transfer through a larger Malaysian gateway before onward uplift. The selected route depends on destination, airline interline capability, customs requirements and available belly capacity.
Transit time is influenced by booking cut-off, transfer connection, weekend and public-holiday schedules, security screening, customs inspection, irregular operations and the need for local trucking.
Our service team provides a confirmed routing only after verifying space, shipment dimensions, commodity, documents and the carrier’s current acceptance conditions. No fixed transit time should be assumed from the airport location alone.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Primary hinterlandTawau and nearby eastern Sabah communities, with onward road delivery planned according to consignee location and road conditions.

Time-critical commercial goodsDocuments, samples, spare parts, replacement components and other compact shipments may be suitable when airline acceptance is secured.

Food and agricultural productsPerishable or agricultural cargo requires early checks on packaging, phytosanitary or health documentation, temperature control and inspection requirements.

Retail and general cargoConsumer goods, e-commerce parcels and packaged commercial cargo can be assessed, subject to dimensions, customs status and available uplift.

Operations & Compliance

Booking cut-off: Regional passenger-flight cargo often has an earlier practical cut-off than the published departure time. Our team confirms the tender deadline with the handling agent and carrier for each shipment.
Accurate declaration: The commercial invoice, packing list, air waybill data, HS classification and consignee details must match the physical cargo. Ambiguous descriptions can trigger delay or inspection.
Special cargo: Dangerous goods, lithium batteries, live animals, perishables, pharmaceuticals, valuables and oversized pieces require advance screening and written carrier acceptance where applicable.
Customs and collection: Import release, inspection, storage exposure and final delivery depend on the destination customs process. The consignee or appointed broker should be ready before arrival notice.

Shipping Tips

Send the commodity description, dimensions, gross weight, piece count, packaging type, origin, destination and requested delivery term to our service team before requesting space.
Build the shipment around the confirmed cargo cut-off rather than the passenger departure time, and allow contingency for security screening, connection handling and customs review.
Use rigid, stackable packaging with clear piece markings and a reliable contact number. For temperature-sensitive goods, provide the required temperature range and maximum permissible transit exposure.
If direct uplift is unavailable or capacity is unsuitable, our team can evaluate a Malaysian gateway connection or an airport-to-door alternative, subject to route, customs and carrier confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Tawau Airport handle international air freight?

International movements may be arranged when a carrier, handling channel and customs process are available for the specific origin, destination and commodity. Our team verifies the complete routing instead of assuming direct international uplift.

Which airlines can be considered for cargo planning?

The supplied airport record identifies Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia passenger connectivity involving Tawau, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan. Cargo acceptance, interline arrangements and current schedules vary, so our team confirms the operating carrier before booking.

Can urgent spare parts or samples be shipped through Tawau Airport?

They can be assessed as priority general cargo when dimensions, packaging, documents and available belly capacity meet the carrier’s conditions. The practical cut-off and connection plan should be confirmed before dispatch.

What should be done before sending perishables or pharmaceuticals?

Provide the commodity, temperature range, packaging method, required handling time and supporting permits in advance. Our team checks cold-chain handover, carrier acceptance and destination release arrangements; temperature-controlled storage should not be presumed.

Is a larger Malaysian gateway a better option?

It may be preferable for large, irregular, dangerous, temperature-sensitive or internationally connected shipments. Our team compares available capacity, connection risk, customs requirements, trucking distance and total transit exposure before recommending an alternative.

Data Sources & Provenance

The airport name, codes, city, country, coordinates and time zone in this module are taken from the supplied airport record. Operational statements are presented as logistics planning guidance and remain subject to carrier, ground-handler, customs and airport confirmation.

Airport operator and airport-information verification reference: malaysiaairports.com.my
Malaysian civil aviation regulatory reference: caam.gov.my
Malaysian customs and import/export compliance reference: customs.gov.my
International air cargo and carrier handling standards reference: iata.org
International airport and aerodrome reference framework: icao.int

Schedules, capacity, cargo acceptance, cut-off times, storage arrangements, customs procedures and specialist handling availability can change. Our service team verifies these items against the shipment and booking date before issuing a final routing.