One of the current phases of the project involves building a unique passenger terminal on top of a swamp, set to turn Ahmad Yani International Airport into the country's very first floating airport.

The terminal is currently 22 percent complete. The entire cost of the project is estimated to be at around Rp 2.07 trillion.

Eco-friendly

The design of the airport will take on an eco-friendly theme. Construction of the terminals will make use of Earth-conscious materials. Not only that, the airport itself will make use of its surrounding swamps.

"We are increasing the use of materials like glass. Aside from its aesthetic value, glass also allows for more natural lighting in the terminal. This saves electricity," said Nina Adis, AP I's project administrator.

Another eco-friendly design element is the airport's "reverse osmosis" technology to provide clean water. By using this technology, rain water and sea water will be processed in a groundwater tank located underneath the airport terminal.

"There will also be water ponding around the airport. Aside from providing raw material for osmosis, it also helps control water levels to prevent flooding during the rainy season. After all, we are using a floating concept, so there has to be water," Nina added.

Solar cells will also contribute to the airport's power supply, though only for street lighting. Each public street lighting pole will have its own solar panel. There are currently 150 of these panels throughout the airport, with a target to install a total of 280 down the line.

Officials at the airport also want to register the terminal for green building certification. No airport in the country has received this certification.

Eventually, the new terminal will have its own interior garden, as well as its own mangrove forest, which visitors can enjoy in the outer area of the airport, all adding to the eco-friendly atmosphere.

Spacious, well-connected

The number of passengers at Ahmad Yani International Airport has increased annually, requiring the addition of a new section to the airport so that it can accommodate all of its 7 million passengers per year.

While the old terminal is only 6,708 square meters in size, the new one is being built on a 58,652 square meter plot of land, nearly 10 times larger in size.

This new project involves the construction of a parking lot that can accommodate 481 cars, 300 motorcycles and 70 taxis. As for the airport apron area, it will be able to accommodate two wide body airplanes, 13 narrow body airplanes and 10 small body airplanes. The upgraded airport will also be equipped with six jet bridges it previously didn’t have.

“The existing airport only has a capacity for eight parking stands for only narrow body planes,” said AP I’s general manager, Maryanto.

The airport itself will be well-connected. AP I and the Central Java Provincial administration are currently developing a master plan that aims to connect the airport to public transportation including trains and Bus Rapid Transit services.               

However, this development will not proceed in the near future. Work on improving public transportation will begin after the airport is completed.

A 2018 operation target

Authorities at AP I are currently working hard to keep the construction on schedule. The management plans to have the airport operational by early 2018.

“The airport really needs to be operational by the start of the year. So around March we will implement a minimum requirement plan,” said AP I’s project manager, Toni Alam.

Through this plan, the jet bridges at the very least have to be available by March or April 2018, especially for international flights.

The same also applies to the terminal itself. Even though only the first floor and parts of the second floor will be completed by early 2018, the airport will be usable.

“However, as a result, we will need a temporary supporting building. And that will add to the cost,” Toni said.

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