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s part of its effort to build an image of a world-class airport, state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II will in the near future relocate airlines’ operations and check-in counters at Terminal 2 of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

“We will effectively relocate several airlines’ check-in counters, including their operations, from terminal D to terminal E and vice versa on Feb. 6,” Sudaryanto, the airport executive senior general manager, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Starting on Monday, the operations and check-in counters of Saudi Arabia Airlines, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Korean Air, will move from Terminal 2D to 2E.

Tiger Airways, Lion Air, Value Air, Kuwait Airways and Yemenia will move from Terminal 2E to 2D.

The operations of Royal Brunei Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Philippine Airlines will remain at Terminal 2D but their check-in counters will move to 2E. Sriwijaya Air operations will remain at 2E but its check-in counter will move to 2D.

The operations and check-in counters of Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Batavia Airlines will remain in Terminal 2D while Garuda Indonesia, KLM Royal Dutch and Mihinlanka will stay at 2E.

“This policy is an attempt to improve the quality of services and facilities for passengers. Changes in check-in counters are aimed at helping airlines to better serve their customers,” Sudaryanto said.

Meanwhile, Amran, vice president of Angkasa Pura II’s aviation business, said that relocation of the airlines’ operations and changes in the check-in counters were expected to balance the distribution of passengers at Terminal 2D and 2E.

He said that after the relocation, Terminal 2D, currently packed with an average of 17,500 passengers a day, will serve a reduced average of 13,500 passengers a day. Meanwhile Terminal 2E will have its daily load increased from an average of 11,900 passengers to 13,000 passengers.

“We dream of having Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on a par with world-class airports such as Incheon, Changi, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing,” he said.

Jaya Tahoma Sirait, the airport senior service manager said that preparations for the changes of airlines’ operations had been supported by customs and excise, immigration, quarantine, airport administration, ground handling companies and the airline operators committee.

“Customers will be informed about the moving airlines and airport operators will also put signs at drop zone areas so that passengers can easily find the new check-in counters,” he said.

The number of passengers traveling through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport reached up to 51.1 million in 2011, increasing by some 8 million from 2010, which placed it as the 16th busiest airport in the world.