MELAKA, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The Batu Berendam Airport(LTBB) here, is expected to begin operations for international flights in mid-January next year, said Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

He said that the LTBB would be known as the Melaka International Airport after the inauguration by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak on January 15.

"With the inauguration by the Prime Minister, a new era will begin for this airport," he told reporters after the meeting of the Melaka State Assembly at Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh here, Thursday.

Mohd Ali hoped that budget airline AirAsia Bhd, would begin operations mid-January next year for flights from Melaka-Penang-Langkawi, Melaka-Penang-Jakarta and other international destinations such as Medan, Padang, Pekan Baru and Surabaya.

He also expressed the hope that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will also start using the Melaka International Airport.

"I will also write to the Philippines budget airline,Cebu Pacific Air, to start using this airport," he said.

The project to raise the status of the LTBB is being undertaken by Konsortium Uni-Integrated to house a new 7,000 sq m terminal complete with various facilities to receive domestic and international flights.

The airport runway has been extended from 1,476 metres to 2,135 metres to enable Boeing and Airbus aircraft to land and take-off.

The process to enlarge and improve the airport costing RM131.5 million began on April 23, 2007 to provide facilities for health tourists, especially from Sumatera, which has now reached 60,000 annually.

The new LTBB terminal can handle 1.5 million passengers annually compared to just 300,000 previously. It has four counters for departures and six for arrivals for both domestic and international flights.

The LTBB also has two parking bays suitable for Boeing 734 aircraft and the Airbus 320.

-- BERNAMA