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Berau set to have two airports to meet demand
Taking flight: Transportation Minister EE Mangindaan (left) inaugurates a new terminal at Kalimarau Airport in Berau, East Kalimantan
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span class="inline inline-none">Taking flight: Transportation Minister EE Mangindaan (left) inaugurates a new terminal at Kalimarau Airport in Berau, East Kalimantan. The opening on Feb. 23 is expected to bring new transportation opportunities to the province.
Construction on Berau’s second airport is underway on the outermost island of Maratua. The regency currently operates Kalimarau Airport located in Tanjung Redeb.
Berau administration disclosed that development of the airport in Maratua has entered the runway-hardening process.
“We will continue with the asphalt surfacing process. The runway can accommodate ATR 42 [Avions de Transport Regional]-type aircraft,” Berau human resources head Mappasikra Mapasalleng said.
The airport on Maratua Island, one of the outermost islands of Indonesia, is expected to draw more tourists to the Maratua and Derawan islands.
East Kalimantan provincial administration has allocated Rp 17 billion (US$1.75 million) for the runway hardening project and another Rp 1 billion for terminal construction.
He also disclosed the local administration planned to expand the Kalimarau Airport terminal to up to 2,000 meters. The terminal expansion project, which would cost around Rp 400 billion, was launched on Feb. 23, 2013, he said.
Kalimarau Airport is equipped with an electrical passenger boarding system. Several airlines are serving flights to Berau via the Kalimarau Airport, including Sriwijaya Air. “Wings Air has opened the route,” he said.
He said Garuda Indonesia management had also sent a team to observe the Kalimarau Airport and would soon offer flights to Berau.
The Kalimarau Airport can accommodate Boeing 737 aircraft with its runway that is 2,250 meters long and 30 meters wide.
He also unveiled the administration’s plan to develop a port and larger-size quay to accommodate large vessels. “The quay will be similar to Tanjung Batu, but around 300 meters long so it can reach the deep sea. Its development will cost around Rp 70 billion,” said Mappasikra.
Maratua is located in the Sulawesi Sea, near the borders of Malaysia and the Philippines. It is home to more than 3,600 people living in four kampungs: Bohe Bukut, Bohe Silian, Payung Payung and Teluk Alulu.
It takes about an hour to fly from Balikpapan to Berau.
“If you need to continue your trip, then it will take you about two hours from Tanjung Redeb (via Kalimarau Airport) to Tanjung Batu Port, from where you can head to Derawan Island or Maratua by speedboat.
— JP/ Nurni Sulaiman
