New int’l airport project to start in 2014

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The construction of a new international airport in Yogyakarta, with capacity for up to 20 million passengers annually, and which will be built in Kulonprogo regency, will commence in 2014, with operations projected to start in 2016, an official says.

“The airport will be located in Kulonprogo. Its construction will commence in 2014 and it will start operating by 2016,” said the Transportation Ministry’s Air Transportation Director General Herry Bakti after a meeting with Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X at the Wilis Building in Kepatihan on Thursday evening.

The meeting was attended by a team from state-run airport management firm PT Angkasa Pura and representatives of its partner, GVK Power and Infrastructure from India, who explained the masterplan for the new airport.

Herry said the airport location, on the southern coast of Kulonprogo, was chosen based on various criteria, such as soil conditions and passenger safety. The airport will stand on a 637-hectare plot.

“The new airport will later be equipped with various facilities, such as a railway line and turnpike,” said Herry. Based on the masterplan, the international airport will also be able to accommodate as many as 28 aircraft in its aprons.

As the airport is located on the southern coast, Herry said, discussions would be held regarding the southern zone flight route. He added the flight route using the northern zone was currently full.

“By using the southern route, flights from Yogyakarta to Bali will fly in a straight direction and will be quicker,” he added.

Kulonprogo Regent Hasto Wardoyo said the new airport site was located along Kulonprogo’s coast, in Temon district. “It is along the coast between Congot and Glagah beaches,” said Hasto.

He added the land acquisition process was currently underway. The land which will be used for the project is 40 percent owned by Pakualaman Ground and the remainder by residents. “We must minimize negative impacts on residents,” said Hasto.

Separately, Sri Sultan urged every stakeholder to obey the rules so the airport licensing process would go smoothly. If licensing failed, the process must be carried out from scratch again. “Don’t let the licensing procedure go wrong, because it must be repeated from the beginning if it does,” he added.

Sri Sultan emphasized the matter because Angkasa Pura is working together with a company from India. He expressed the need for certainty whether Angkasa Pura alone, or the joint-venture would apply for the building permit. “This is a joint-venture between a state-run company and a foreign company. Who will apply for the building permit and who will acquire the location permit, the governor or the minister?” asked Sri Sultan.

Sri Sultan has urged every stakeholder to observe the existing rules because so far funds for airport projects have been derived only from the state budget.

“This is the first time in Yogyakarta a foreign company has been involved in an airport project,” said Sri Sultan, adding the foreign company could be involved in the project but it must be approved by the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

Yogyakarta Transportation, Communications and Informatics Office head Tjipto Haribawa said after seeing the masterplan for the new airport, that every relevant agency would take the necessary measures.