Ranau Airport (RNU)

Ranau Airport is a small regional airfield serving Ranau district in Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It sits about 1 km from Ranau town centre and close to Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a practical access point for the Kinabalu Park area.

The site dates to the Second World War, when it was used as a Japanese airfield and attacked by Allied aircraft in May 1945. Today it remains in use as Ranau Airport, handling charter flights, government and NGO missions, emergency response, and general aviation rather than large-scale scheduled services.

The airport has a single short runway at an elevation of about 549 metres, with a basic passenger handling area and limited amenities. Ranau town is a short drive away, while the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, is roughly 70 km to the west and can be reached by road through the highlands.

For most travelers, Kota Kinabalu International Airport remains the main scheduled gateway to Sabah, but Ranau Airport provides a useful regional option for charter and specialized flights into the Mount Kinabalu area. Visitors should arrange ground transport in advance and be prepared for the highland climate.