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Jokowi officiates IKN Airport groundbreaking ceremony
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(Photo courtesy of the Transportation Ministry)
C
onstruction has begun on the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Airport with a groundbreaking ceremony officiated by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Nov. 1 in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan.
Also attending the event were Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi and his colleagues from the Indonesia Onward Cabinet: Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Hadi Tjahjanto and Air Transportation Director General Maria Kristi.
Local dignitaries present at the groundbreaking ceremony included IKN Authority Head Bambang Susantono, acting East Kalimantan governor Akmal Malik and Land Bank Authority head Parman Nataatmadja.
In his speech, the President emphasized the significance of the airport in the anticipated increase in activities at the nation’s new capital, particularly in the growing mobility of people and goods to and from Nusantara.
IKN Airport is a special airport designed to support government activities in and enhance the connectivity of the new capital city. The airport is located in Penajam district of North Penajam Paser, 23 kilometers from the Nusantara city center and 120 km from the province’s port city of Balikpapan.
"This airport will open up the IKN region further, improve connectivity, and make it easily accessible from anywhere. I believe that IKN Airport will enhance [the new capital’s] competitiveness, stimulate economic growth, support regional development, and accelerate the ongoing development of [Nusantara]," said Jokowi.
Meanwhile, transportation minister Budi said developing the transportation infrastructure in North Penajam Paser was part of the government's commitment to achieving equitable development through the Indonesia-Centric national revival program.
"The construction of this airport is expected to boost economic growth and tourism in East Kalimantan," the minister added.
IKN Airport spans 347 hectares and features a runway measuring 3,000 meters by 45 m, Taxiway A (180 by 30 m), Taxiway B (180 by 30 m) and a 102,150-square-meter apron, as well as a 7,352 sqm terminal.
The airport is scheduled to commence flights in July 2024 and be fully operational by December 2024.
"The largest aircraft this airport will serve are the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A380," Budi said.
The IKN Airport development project involves a multiyear contract from fiscal year 2023 to 2024, with the Transportation Ministry managing the development of its landside facilities and the Public Works and Housing Ministry in charge of developing its airside facilities.
The design concept for the IKN Airport Terminal incorporates local wisdoms to highlight the cultures of Kalimantan with a modern, nature-centered and environmentally friendly approach.
#ConnectingIndonesia
This article is published in collaboration with the Transportation Ministry.
